Queiroz (right) has learned from Man Utd mentor Ferguson Queiroz joins Real Who is Carlos Queiroz?

Carlos Queiroz has heaped praise on Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson after taking over at Real Madrid.

"He is a man of magnitude which is beyond comparison," said Ferguson's former right-hand man at Old Trafford.

"He is a real football person. More than that, he is football."

Queiroz, who replaces Vicente del Bosque at the Bernabeu, spent just a season working alongside Ferguson.

But the 50-year-old Portuguese is clearly a big fan of the Scot.

"He has some human qualities which are unknown," said Queiroz, who played a key role in helping United claim the Premiership crown.

"He has all of my respect and I have a lot of admiration for Manchester United. They are a great club.

I'm not scared of following people like Ferguson and Del Bosque Carlos Queiroz

"Without a man like Sir Alex I wouldn't have learnt as much."

Queiroz has the task of winning the fans over at Real, with some sections still unhappy at the departure of Del Bosque.

But the former Portugal, Sporting Lisbon and South Africa boss is relishing the job of managing such stars as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham.

"My aim is to continue the project that the president and his board are constructing," said Queiroz, who has signed a two-year deal with the club.

"I'm not scared of following people like Ferguson and del Bosque. They are great managers and have given me the desire to serve football.

"This is the most famous club in the world. They have built a great part of the story of world football and I am really looking forward to meeting the expectations of the fans."