Santos hired as Portugal coach, replacing Bento

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LISBON, Portugal (AP) β€” Fernando Santos is taking over as Portugal coach, despite his eight-game international ban for misconduct at the World Cup.

The Portuguese football federation says in a brief statement on its website the former Greece coach is replacing Paulo Bento, who quit two weeks ago after a run of poor results.

It says Santos will be presented at a news conference on Wednesday but gave no further information.

FIFA banned Santos in August for verbally abusing match officials in Brazil while coaching Greece. Santos is appealing that ban, with a ruling expected this week.

After a 1-0 loss to Albania this month, Portugal’s next match in its European Championship qualifying campaign is against Denmark on Oct. 14.