LISBON (AFP) - Carlos Queiroz has given up his job as Sir Alex Ferguson's righthand man at Manchester United to take charge of the Portuguese national team.

Queiroz has signed a four-year deal and replaces Luiz Felipe Scolari who has taken over at Chelsea.

"Carlos Queiroz is the new national coach," said a Portugal Football Federation (FPF) statement released by the Lusa news agency.

"The Portuguese coach has a four-year deal and will be presented on Wednesday."

Portuguese Football Federation President Gilberto Madail said there hadn't really been a debate over who should replace Scolari.

"Carlos Queiroz is without doubt a benchmark of excellence for Portuguese football coaches and he was my first choice for the job," said Madail in a statement.

Queiroz for his part said that he was looking forward to the challenge of coaching the Portuguese, who bowed out in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals beaten 3-2 by Germany.

"Since the first time I was contacted I have been very keen to accept this huge challenge," said Queiroz.

"I would like to thank Manchester United for agreeing to let me go."

The 55-year-old Queiroz was in charge of the Portugal Under-20 side which won the world titles in 1989 amd 1991 and was dubbed the "golden generation", boasting players of the calibre of Luis Figo, Fernando Couto and Paulo Sousa.

He has also coached Sporting Lisbon between 1993 and 1996 as well as Real Madrid (2003-2004), the UAE (1997-1999) and South Africa (2000-2002).