Q is for...

As uefa.com Action's A to Z countdown to the UEFA Champions League final on 25 May continues, it is time for some great Qs.

Carlos Queiroz found himself back at Manchester United FC as assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson last summer after an unsuccessful spell as coach of Real Madrid CF - the Spanish side surrendering an eight-point Primera División lead to Valencia CF last season.

Queiroz was born in Mozambique in 1953 and first became noticed in the footballing world when he guided a Portugal side containing Luís Figo, Rui Costa and João Pinto to FIFA World Youth Championship success in 1989 and 1991.

He then coached Sporting Clube de Portugal before spending time in the United States and Japan. After that he oversaw South Africa's qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup but stepped down before the finals themselves, and joined United that summer.

United won the Premiership in his first season at Old Trafford, prompting Madrid to offer Queiroz the coaching job when Vicente Del Bosque left the club. However, while his season at the club was not to be a success, Sir Alex stepped in to reappoint him.

The oil-rich state of Qatar has become a playground for some of the Champions League's finest players as they near the end of their careers. Former Chelsea FC and France defender Marcel Desailly announced recently that he would continue to play for one more season after winning the league title with Al-Gharafa at the age of 37.

Madrid hero Fernando Hierro also spent a season in Qatar before heading to England to join Bolton Wanderers FC, while World Cup winner Christophe Dugarry and FC Bayern München's Champions League-winning captain Steffan Effenberg have also served amid the sand dunes.