Portugal hire Bento as new coach

The former Sporting Lisbon manager has agreed a two-year deal that will see him take charge until the completion of the European Championship in 2012.

Bento was capped 35 times by Portugal during his playing days as a defensive midfielder and has had two spells in charge of Sporting as well as a period at the Benfica helm.

Former boss Queiroz was dismissed earlier in the month after leading his side to a poor start to the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

Portugal have only managed one point from two games in Group H and are already five points behind leaders Denmark.

Portuguese Football Federation president Gilberto Madail launched an attempt to secure the services of Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho on a temporary basis but his effort was thwarted by Los Merengues president Florentino Perez.

Bento now has the task of turning around the fortunes of the national side, after they crashed out in the second round of the World Cup to Spain.

His first game in charge will be a crunch clash against Denmark on Friday October 8 as Portugal look to peg back the group leaders.