Carlos Manuel was today confirmed as the new coach of the Guinea-Bissau national football team. The appointment will be the Portuguese’s first foray into international management, where he will replace compatriot Norton de Matos.

Manuel enjoyed a distinguished playing career, making over two hundred appearances for Benfica as well as enjoying two years with Sporting Lisbon. He also won forty-two caps for the Selecção, with his finest moment being the amazing goal that he scored against Germany to secure qualification for the 1986 World Cup.

His management career has been slightly less illustrious however, with short spells in charge of Sporting and Braga in 1998 being followed with a string of jobs in Portugal’s lower leagues. His finest achievement from the dugout came in the 2000/2001 season, when he led Santa Clara to the Liga da Honra title. Manuel is also no stranger to coaching in Africa, with his most recent job coming as manager of 1° Agosto in Angola.
 

The 54-year-old takes over a Guinea-Bissau side that currently lie 169^th in the FIFA World Rankings. The team are without a win in seven, with their last victory coming against Gambia nearly eighteen months ago. He inherits a squad that is largely made up of players plying their trade in Portugal’s lower leagues, although it does include Beira-Mar goalkeeper Jonas Mendes, Olhanense midfielder Ivanildo and Maritímo striker Sami.   

Manuel certainly does not have long to settle in, with his first match coming in just four days time against Cameroon on June 16^th in the second leg of their first-round qualifier for the 2013 African Cup of Nations. Guinea-Bissau trail 1-0 after losing the home leg to the Indomitable Lions in February, and will need to produce something special if they are to turn the tie around in the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé.

by Tom Clee

Watch Carlos Manuel's incredible strike against Germany to secure Portugal's second appearance at a World Cup: