Paulo Bento was named as Portugal soccer coach until the end of Euro 2012, the Portuguese Football Federation announced on Tuesday.

"Paulo Bento and his technical team will sign a contract until July 2012," the federation said.

Bento, 41, a former defensive midfielder who won 35 caps for Portugal, will succeed Carlos Queiroz, who was sacked earlier this month after some disciplinary run-ins with the federation and a string of poor results.

Portugal have made a poor start to their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign, drawing 4-4 with Cyprus and losing 1-0 to Norway to leave them in fourth place in Group H.