CARLOS QUEIROZ hinted his time as Iran boss is up after posting an emotional goodbye message to the team.
The Portuguese, 69, was contracted until the end of the World Cup.
Now that their campaign has ended, following Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to the USA, his deal has expired – unless fresh terms can be negotiated.
Iranian sources suggest there have been informal talks over an extension for some time.
Yet Queiroz’s Instagram post on Wednesday suggested that could be that.
Together with an image of him waving, the former Manchester United assistant wrote to his players: “I am proud of you and once more you were brilliant on and off the pitch.
“It was an honour and privilege to be part of this football family. I do believe that you deserve full respect delivering credibility to your country and football supporters.
“Wish you all happiness, peace, success and health, thank you, CQ.”
Queiroz bossed Iran from 2011 to 2019, taking them to both the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2018 tournament in Russia.
He rejoined the Middle-Eastern nation on a three-month deal earlier this year to coach them in Qatar, where they beat Wales 2-0 but lost to England and the USA, meaning they failed to progress to the knockouts.
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Team Melli’s campaign was played to the backdrop of the civil unrest going on in their country following the death of 22-year-old woman Mahsa Amini in police custody after allegedly breaking strict headscarf rules in September.
Mass protests subsequently broke out against the country’s hardline, Islamist government, who have responded with a brutal crackdown that has seen hundreds killed and thousands arrested.
Iran’s players were quizzed by media throughout the tournament about how the situation back home was affecting them, prompting Queiroz to bite back.
Things got very tense ahead of the final group game against the US, when Iranian journalists asked American boss Gregg Berhalter and midfielder Tyler Adams a number of politically-charged questions in the pre-match press conference.
Queiroz and Berhalter attempted to diffuse the situation ahead of Tuesday’s match by meeting, apologising for the tensions and wishing each other a good and fair match.
The USA won it thanks to Christian Pulisic’s first-half strike, setting up a last-16 clash with Holland on Saturday and sending Team Melli home.
Iran’s players and staff were due to fly back to Tehran on a chartered flight at 5pm on Wednesday, with the exception of some of the squad-members who play abroad and are due back with their clubs.
