Fernando Santos would be the new coach of Poland

FILE – Portugal’s coach during the World Cup quarterfinal match against Morocco in Doha, Qatar, on Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

WARSAW (AP) — The president of the Polish Football Association of Poland published a photo of himself with Portugal coach Fernando Santos, a day before the news conference to announce the new national coach.

Cezary Kulesza’s tweet contained the message: “See you tomorrow at the press conference.”

Kulesza will make the announcement at the National Stadium in Warsaw.

Hours earlier, a video published by Sport.pl and republished by Gazeta.pl appeared to show the 68-year-old technician leaving the VIP queue at Warsaw airport and then receiving assistance for his luggage from the driver of a black limousine at the that the coach left the airport.

Poland did not renew the contract of former manager Czeslaw Michniewicz after reaching the knockout phase of a World Cup for the first time in 36 years. Michniewicz’s contract expired on December 31.

Kulesza, had anticipated that the new coach will be an experienced foreigner in command of a national team. Earlier press reports had linked former Portugal manager Paulo Bento and former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard.

Santos, 68, parted ways as Portugal coach after the defeat against Morocco in the World Cup quarterfinals. He did it with controversy, since he relegated the star Cristiano Ronaldo to the substitution starting in the round of 16 of the tournament.

Santos led Portugal to the 2016 European Championship, the team’s first major international title, as well as winning the UEFA Nations League title in 2019. He also led Greece at Euro 2012 —when reached the quarterfinals—and the 2014 World Cup.

In anticipation of Tuesday’s announcement, Poland’s sports minister Kamil Bortniczuk praised the federation in a tweet. He described Santos as a successful manager with “experience working with big stars, starting with @Cristiano” Ronaldo.

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