TEHRAN: Veteran coach Carlos Queiroz is back yet again as boss of Iran for the World Cup finals in Qatar. He replaces Dragan Skocic, himself a stop-gap who led Iran to the finals.

Queiroz will be taking the nation to the World Cup for the third time after also being in charge in 2014 and 2018.

“When the family call you home, all you do is simply just show up,” Queiroz, 69, wrote on Instagram alongside a photograph taken during his previous stint with the Iranians.

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“Fully committed to your duties and ready for the mission. Let’s do it together lads! To the future! Thank you so much Team Melli.”

Iran kick off their World Cup campaign against England in Group B on Nov. 21 before taking on Wales and the United States.

Queiroz, former Real Madrid coach, led the country to their best performance at a World Cup in Russia four years ago, when the Iranians defeated Morocco and drew with Portugal before narrowly missing out on a place in the knockout rounds.

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Qatar will be Queiroz’s fourth appearance at the World Cup as a coach, having led his native Portugal in 2010 before taking Iran to the finals in Brazil and Russia.

Iran will be appearing at the World Cup for the sixth time and have never advanced beyond the group phase.

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