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Carlos Queiroz has been sacked as coach of Qatar’s national team less than a year after signing a four-year contract to manage the Asian champions and more than a month before the country hosts the next edition of the Asian Cup, with Marquez Lopez appointed to update him. . .
The former Real Madrid and Portugal coach replaced Felix Sanchez on a long-term basis in February after the Qataris hosted the World Cup final last year and were tasked with qualifying the Gulf State for the 2026 tournament.
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“The Qatar Football Federation has announced that the tenure of Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz as head coach of the Qatar national team has been amicably terminated by mutual agreement between the two parties,” the QFA said in a statement.
“The QFA expresses its sincere gratitude to coach Queiroz for his unwavering dedication, leadership, and contributions during his tenure as the head coach of the national team. We wish him success in his future endeavours.”
The QFA announced Márquez López as his successor. The Spaniard has recently been in the ranks of Qatari club Al-Wakrah.
“The coach will be in charge of the Qatar national team at the 2023 Asian Cup, which will be held in Qatar next year,” the QFA said.
“The QFA expresses gratitude and appreciation to Al-Wakrah Sports Club for their cooperation and consent in facilitating Coach Marquez Lopez’s appointment as the national team head coach for the upcoming period.”
Queiroz oversaw wins over Afghanistan and India in November in the second round of Asia’s preliminaries for the next World Cup, with the Qataris chasing one of eight spots available for teams from the continent at the expanded 48-team tournament.
Qatar won its first Asian Cup under Sanchez’s name in 2019 and the country is expected to protect the trophy on home soil next month when it faces China, Tajikistan and Lebanon in the host phase.
The Gulf country will host the continental championship after China, the original host, relinquished its rights due to the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.