Carlos Queiroz (73, Portugal) has stepped down as the head coach of the Ghana national football team.

The decision comes two days after Ghana was eliminated from the 2026 North and Central America World Cup following a loss to Colombia in the Round of 32.

Queiroz announced his resignation through his official social media account today, July 6.

"Football, like life, teaches us the unchanging lesson that you either win or you learn," he wrote. "I conclude this journey with pride in what we have achieved, while also carrying the healthy disappointment of those who wished for even greater heights."

Queiroz, who has been regarded as a world-class coach after leading national teams including South Africa, Portugal, Colombia, Egypt, Qatar, and Oman, was brought in as a 'firefighter' in April—two months before the World Cup—signing a four-month short-term contract with the Ghana Football Association.

During his brief tenure, he led Ghana in a total of 5 matches, recording 1 win, 2 draws, and 2 losses (3 goals scored, 3 goals conceded).

In the process, he also set a unique record as the oldest coach to win a match at the World Cup.

Born on March 1, 1953, Queiroz secured a victory during the group stage at the age of 73 years and 3 months, surpassing the previous record held by former Greece national team coach Otto Rehhagel (Germany), who was 71 years and 10 months old at the 2010 South Africa tournament.

Ghana, which was eliminated in the group stage at the 2022 Qatar tournament, succeeded in reaching the knockout stage under Queiroz's leadership, but concluded their campaign after a 0-1 defeat to Colombia in the Round of 32.

Meanwhile, Queiroz is also a familiar figure to South Korean football fans due to a bitter history.

He was often referred to as an 'unlikable coach' in Korea for frequently obstructing the national team's progress during his time leading the Iran national team from 2011 to 2019.

In particular, he sparked significant controversy in June 2013 after Iran's 1-0 victory over South Korea in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2014 Brazil World Cup in Ulsan, when he made an obscene gesture toward the South Korean bench.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)