Carlos Queiroz has bounced back from the disappointment of missing out on the World Cup as South Africa coach by joining Manchester United.
His appointment as Sir Alex Ferguson's right-hand man is sure to be another famous chapter in the career of Queiroz, a coach hailed for his ability to nurture young talent.
Queiroz is a vastly experienced Portuguese coach who was born in Nampula, Mozambique in 1953.
He coached Portuguese national sides from under-16 to full international level with varying degrees of success.
Portugal's current crop of world-class players were groomed by the 49-year-old - he captured successive World Youth Championships in 1989 and 1991 with Luis Figo, Rui Costa and Joao Pinto.
He then made the step up to full international football with his home country - coaching the side from 1991 to 1994.
Queiroz's vast knowledge of the game includes coaching spells in the USA and in the United Arab Emirates.
The one-time Sporting Lisbon coach's background in football development was crucial for his appointment as boss of the South African national team.
Encouraging results, such as World Cup qualification, were undone by a thoroughly disappointing African Nations Cup campaign in Mali earlier this year where the South Africans were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by the hosts.
Queiroz consequently failed to win the confidence of the fans and the team amongst allegations of favouritism towards European-based players.
The appointment of assistant coach and arguably South Africa's greatest ever player, Jomo Sono, undermined Queiroz's position and led to a stand-off between the coach and the South African Football Association (SAFA).
Queiroz eventually bowed to calls for him to leave but maintained his dignity right until the very end.
AFP