Sousa's QPR Appointment....Briatore's Continued Team "Involvement"?

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- Hopefully the assertions of Briatore's continued team involvement are incorrect - or at least exaggerated! Clearly, time will tell: If he remains involved, that will leak out. In the meanwhile, post your views on Sousa's appointment - or anything else - on the QPR Report Messageboard

From The Mirror/John Cross - FLAVIO SO PICKY WITH SOUSA
- Paulo Sousa was last night confirmed as QPR's new boss - but owner Flavio Briatore wants to pick the team. - Former Benfica and Juventus star Sousa was named as first-team coach at Loftus Road, as revealed in yesterday's Mirror Sport.
But QPR owner Briatore has put Sousa in charge of coaching duties rather than naming him manager because he insists on having a hands-on role in team affairs. Iain Dowie was axed as boss after objecting to Formula One tycoon Briatore's interference.
However, Briatore went for Sousa - a member of Portugal's 'Golden Generation' and an exnational team assistant coach - because he is prepared to let the owner call the shots in terms of team selection.
A club insider said: "Flavio wants to be heavily involved, thinks he can do a good job and wants a coach, rather than a manager, to work with the players he picks and signs. Mirror


The Mirror II/Derek McGovern - RESULT!: New boss Sousa will have to do as so-and-so Flavio says so
- Iain Dowie's record as QPR manager was so-so but so-so just isn't good enough when mega-rich Flavio Briatore is chairman.
- So Flavio, the old so-andso, has brought in as new manager a man named Sousa.
- Reports earlier this week that Paulo Sousa had been spotted at QPR's training ground surprised even the hardened football fan. Rangers actually train?
- Briatore knows money usually brings success, but this strategy only works if you actually spend some of it. So far the only figures that threatened to go up at Loftus Road this season were the ticket prices.
- Just 13,226 turned up on Saturday, and most of the first team were not among that number.
- Insiders believe they know what Sousa's tactics will be - exactly the same as Flavio's.
- Vc Bet offer 5-2 that Sousa is no longer in charge on the first day of next season.
- That's not the best bet in the world, but it's an awful lot better than so-so. Mirror


The Sun/Paul Jiggins - Paulo Sou right for Rangers
PAULO SOUSA has been confirmed as QPR’s new first-team coach — just as we said he would in yesterday’s SunSport.
The former Portugal midfielder, 38, last night signed a 2½-year deal at Loftus Road but can expect to be no more than a puppet in Flavio Briatore’s Rangers regime.
We told you last month that co-owner and chairman Briatore axed Iain Dowie 24 hours before last month’s clash at Reading because the Italian demanded a say in picking the team.
Midfielder Gavin Mahon admitted after the 0-0 draw with the Royals that the team Dowie selected before he was given his P45 was not the line-up that took to the field at the Madejski.
Briatore was said to be furious with Mahon for speaking to the Press after that game and the player has not started in the three Championship games since.
Caretaker boss Gareth Ainsworth also refused to deny the Italian’s interference when he spoke exclusively to The Sun last Friday.
Sousa, however, is thrilled by his new appointment.
The man who had spells with Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Inter Milan, Parma and Borussia Dortmund, said: “It is an honour to be part of this project.
“I have always wanted to work for a big club and I am very excited.
“I have great belief in my ideas and my ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management.” The Sun


- The Times/Kaveh Solhekol - Paulo Sousa charms his way into QPR hotseat
- Queens Park Rangers are hoping that they have found the new José Mourinho after Paulo Sousa agreed to become the club's first-team coach. Sousa, who had been working as the Portugal assistant head coach, was recommended to QPR by Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Chelsea manager. The Brazilian worked with Sousa when he was in charge of Portugal and had no hesitation in recommending the 38-year-old former Juventus and Inter Milan midfield player when he was asked for his opinion.
- Sousa spoke to Scolari before deciding to move to London after the Chelsea manager told him that QPR's offer was too good to turn down. Sousa has signed a 2½-year contract worth about £20,000 a week and will be in charge of the first team for Saturday's match away to Watford.
- “He is going to be the new José Mourinho with all his flair, charm and talent,” a source at the Coca-Cola Championship club said. “Paulo got the job because he wanted it that little bit more than the rest and, unlike the others, he is up and coming. Scolari spoke warmly about his potential, and with Sousa's connections it could be a very exciting time for the club.”
- Flavio Briatore, the QPR chairman, had wanted to give the job to Gareth Ainsworth after the player-coach impressed his employers during his six games as caretaker manager, but the 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley on Saturday convinced the Italian that he needed someone with more experience. Bernie Ecclestone, the co-owner, Amit Bhatia, the vice-chairman who represents Lakshmi Mittal's 20 per cent stake in the club, and Gianni Paladini, the sporting director, convinced Briatore that appointing Ainsworth on a permanent basis would be too big a gamble if the club were serious about being promoted to the Barclays Premier League at the end of the season.
- Roberto Mancini, the former Inter coach, who is learning English in London, turned down the job because he did not want to work in the Championship. His rejection meant that QPR had to choose between Sousa and Roberto Donadoni, the former Italy coach, and the Portuguese got the job after Scolari's recommendation.
- “I believe in playing positive attacking football and I'm looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead,” Sousa said after becoming the club's eighth manager in two years.
- “I always wanted to work for a big club and I'm very excited about working for QPR.”
- Sousa has been given assurances by Briatore that he will have money to spend when the transfer window opens in January and he has also been told that he is in sole charge of first-team affairs. Briatore is a hands-on chairman and the departure last month of Iain Dowie, the manager, was caused by his refusal to pick the players that the Italian wanted in the team. Briatore was said to have had a big say in team selection when Ainsworth, who has agreed to stay as the club's player-coach, was in charge.
- Several British managers are said to have decided not to apply for the job because they were concerned that the chairman would interfere with their work.
- “Paulo has great experience after working with the Portuguese national team and he is part of a new generation of coaches,” Briatore said. “He has worked with some of the best players in the world and we are very excited about having him here.”
- Sousa is unlikely to be the only new arrival at Loftus Road this week, with the club set to announce the signing of Heidar Helguson on loan from Bolton Wanderers until January. The Iceland forward failed a medical in West London last week but the deal was resurrected after QPR agreed to pay half his £16,000-a-week wages and Bolton agreed to take him back if he was injured during his loan spell. The Times


BBC - Sousa is new QPR first-team coach
- QPR have named former Portugal midfielder Paulo Sousa as their new first-team coach.
Sousa, who was assistant coach of the Portuguese national team, has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.
The 38-year-old played 51 times for his country and had spells with Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, Juventus, Inter Milan, Parma and Borussia Dortmund.
Gareth Ainsworth, who had been in caretaker charge at Rangers, will stay on as part of Sousa's backroom team.
Sousa told QPR's website: "It is an honour to be part of this project.
"I have always wanted to work for a big club and I am very excited about the opportunity to work for Queens Park Rangers.
"I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management.
"I believe in playing positive, attacking football and am looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead."
Player/coach Ainsworth was placed at the helm by boss Flavio Briatore following the sacking of Iain Dowie in October.
Dowie was dismissed after refusing to select a team suggested to him by Briatore, who owns the west London club along with fellow Formula One magnate Bernie Ecclestone.
- Briatore had a major say in team affairs under Ainsworth, who was initially the frontrunner to land the coach's job on a permanent basis, despite a number of big names being linked with the role.
- But the search for an alternative was stepped up following Rangers' home defeat against Burnley on Saturday.
- Several British managers are understood to have stayed out of the running for the job because of the R's board's role in team selection and transfers. - Briatore described Sousa's appointment as "very good for this football club."
Briatore added: "He has great experience after working with the Portuguese national team and he is part of the new generation of coach.
- "He has worked with some of the world`s best players and we are excited about having him.
- "His football career was highly impressive and he has great knowledge of the game. After five years with Portugal, he is ready for a new challenge and I am delighted he has agreed to join us."
- Sousa won the Champions League twice as a player, first with Juventus in 1996 and then Dortmund the following year.
- He also won the Serie A title with Juventus and represented Portugal at the European Championships in 1996 and 2000. BBC


INDPENDENT/Andy Sims - Sousa ready to deal with QPR's great expectations
- Paulo Sousa: 'I have great belief in my ideas and my ability, and I want to play attacking football'
- Paulo Sousa, the former Portugal international, yesterday became Queens Park Rangers' sixth manager in a little over a year when he was confirmed as their new first-team coach. Sousa follows John Gregory, Luigi De Canio and Iain Dowie, as well as caretaker managers Mick Harford and now Gareth Ainsworth, who have been dispensed with since Flavio Briatore became the chairman.
Sousa, 38, capped 51 times by his country and a Champions League-winner with Juventus in 1996 and Borussia Dortmund in 1997, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract at Loftus Road. Dowie was dismissed last month amid claims that Briatore, who is also the co-owner, wanted too much say in team selection. But Sousa, who worked under Luiz Felipe Scolari on the coaching staff of the Portuguese national team, is believed to have insisted on being in sole charge of team affairs.
"Paulo is a very good appointment," Briatore said. "I have been keeping track of his work for the last few months and he is the right man for our project. He has great experience after working with the Portuguese national team and he is part of the new generation of coaches. He has worked with some of the world's best players and we are excited about having him.
"His football career was highly impressive and he has great knowledge of the game. After five years with Portugal, he is ready for a new challenge and I am delighted he has agreed to join us."
Ainsworth's chances of being handed the full-time role disappeared after last Saturday's disappointing 2-1 home defeat by Burnley, which saw Rangers slip to 10th in the Championship, but the popular winger will stay on as a member of Sousa's backroom team.
Sousa will be expected to mount a promotion bid this season, and the former midfielder has no qualms about dealing with the expectation. "It is an honour to be part of this project," he said. "I have always wanted to work for a big club and I am very excited about the opportunity to work for Queens Park Rangers.
"I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management. I believe in playing positive, attacking football. To achieve positive results you have to maintain a focused outlook and my team will aim to do this. I am looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead." Sousa's first game in charge will be away to Watford on Saturday. Independent


Telegraph/Sandy Macaskill
- Queens Park Rangers name former Portugal international Paulo Sousa as new coach
Paulo Sousa, the former Portugal international, has been confirmed as first-team coach of Queens Park Rangers after signing a 2½-year contract at Loftus Road.
- The 38-year-old immediately promised to provide attacking football to fulfil the club's ambitions of promotion to the Premier League.
- Sousa is the sixth coach to have been appointed by the club in 13 months, but the Portuguese waved away any concerns about dealing with the pressure of living up to his paymasters' high expectations.
- "I have great belief in my ideas and my coaching ability and I firmly believe I can achieve the objectives set by the management," he said. "I believe in playing positive, attacking football. To achieve positive results you have to maintain a focused outlook and my team will aim to do this, both for ourselves and for the fans.
- "It is an honour to be part of this project," he added. "I have always wanted to work for a big club and I am very excited about the opportunity to work for Queens Park Rangers."
- Sousa, who has been assistant coach of the Portuguese national side for the past five years, replaces caretaker manager Gareth Ainsworth, who will be kept on as a member of the coaching staff. Ainsworth was initially given the board's backing after Iain Dowie was sacked last month, yet it now appears that the club's chairman, Flavio Briatore, had already earmarked Sousa as a long-term replacement.
- "I have been keeping track of his work for the last few months and he is the right man for our project," Briatore said. "He has great experience after working with the Portuguese national team and he is part of the new generation of coach.
- "He has worked with some of the world's best players and we are excited about having him," Briatore added. "His football career was highly impressive and he has great knowledge of the game. I am delighted he has agreed to join us. He is a very good appointment for this football club." Telegraph

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