Carlos Queiroz is being lined up for a return to Manchester United.
The News of the World says Sir Alex Ferguson is ready to bring Queiroz back to Manchester United as his assistant for a THIRD time.
The Portuguese coach was sacked as national team manager last week after he was banned for six months by Portugal's anti-doping authority.
He was alleged to have insulted drug testers as they arrived at Portugal's pre-World Cup training camp ahead of their departure to South Africa.
Queiroz, 57, who is appealing the verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, then presided over a poor campaign in which his side were knocked out of the competition in the second round by bitter rivals Spain.
But the former Real Madrid coach's players all tested negative and he is only banned from working in Portugal.
He is still highly regarded by Fergie after the pair won three Premier League titles and the Champions League together.
His return would see a restructuring of United's coaching set-up, with Mike Phelan reverting to a coaching role alongside Dutchman Rene Meulensteen.
