Former Portugal boss Fernando Santos named as Poland coach

• by Agence France-Presse , Jan 24, 2023

Fernando Santos, who was the Portuguese national team's head coach until last month, was named as Poland's new coach on Tuesday.

"From today, I am Polish. I am one of you," Santos declared at the official ceremony in Warsaw. "It is an honor to continue my work as a trainer here."

"I am convinced that we will work hard to give the Poles a lot of joy. I am sure that we will achieve success," Santos told journalists at the press conference called to announce the nomination. 

Santos, 68, succeeds Czeslaw Michniewicz, who was sacked last month following Poland's elimination in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar.

Poland finished second in its group, beating Saudi Arabia, drawing with Mexico and losing to eventual champions Argentina. In the round of 16 for the first time in 36 years, Poland went out after a tame 3-1 defeat at the hands of eventual runner-up France. 

Lisbon-born Santos quit as Portugal's coach in December, following the team's shock World Cup quarterfinal loss to Morocco. Appointed coach of Portugal in September 2014, Santos won the country's first major title at Euro 2016 and followed it up with the 2019 Nations League. However, his time in charge also saw round of 16  exits at the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020. Santos also coached the Greece national team in 2010-2014.

"The choice was difficult, but we have chosen the best," Cezary Kulesza, head of the Polish soccer federation, said. "Our first objective is to qualify for the European Championship," which will take place in Germany in 2024, he added.

When he first revealed the new coach's name, Kulesza misspoke, calling him "Felipe" instead of Fernando, drawing ridicule from local media.

In one of his first interviews to Polish media, Santos told the Interia news site that his primary focus was on winning. 

"Soccer is not a painting nor... Chopin's music. It is much simpler: if you don't concede goals and you score, then you win. That's all." 

Santos said he planned to move to Warsaw and get to know the team. 

"I don't want to be the guy that you see only during the matches and on the special occasions," he said. "I want to get to know the people of Polish soccer and I want them to get to know me." 

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