Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Doha: The Qatar Football Association (QFA) terminated the contract of national team coach Paulo Autuori after Qatar were eliminated from the Gulf Cup 2013 without making it into the knockout stages.
An official meeting of the QFA on Tuesday decided to mutually terminate the Brazilian’s contract and appoint Autuori’s assistant Fahad Thani as the coach of the Qatar national football team.
"We thank Mr. Autuori for the commitment he has shown towards the development of the National Team and football in Qatar. We wish him every success in his future endeavours,” QFA President HE Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al Thani was quoted on the QFA official website.
Newly appointed Fahad Thani also stressed his readiness for the upcoming tough matches which include Qatar’s remaining matches of the FIFA World Cup 2014 Asian qualifiers and AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifiers.
"It may look difficult to proceed in the World Cup qualifiers but it is not impossible knowing this team's real potential," Fahad said.
The first official assignment for Fahad will be the AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifiers early next month at home against Malaysia as Qatar are in Group D which also features neighbours Bahrain and Yemen.
Qatar, who have accumulated seven points from five matches in Group A of the FIFA World Cup 2014 Asian qualifiers, travel to Korea Republic on 26 March 2013 before entertaining Iran in June.