The Spaniard will take charge of the national team immediately with sights on World Cup qualification.
Julen Lopetegui has been appointed the new Qatar national team head coach, the Qatar Football Association confirmed on Thursday.
The Spaniard penned a two-year contract, which will see him take Al Annabi’s charges until 2027 with immediate effect.
“Lopetegui’s debut as Qatar’s head coach will see him guide the national squad in the remaining FIFA World Cup Qualifiers,” the QFA said in a statement, adding the contract was signed between the Spaniard and QFA General Secretary Mansoor Al-Ansari.
Qatar will play under the 51-year-old’s tutelage against Iran on June 5 at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, which will be their final home game of the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers. Al Annabi will then travel to Tashkent to face Uzbekistan on June 10.
The former Real Madrid boss will replace fellow Spaniard Luis Garcia in the position, who had succeeded Bartolome Marquez Lopez in December.
Garcia had previously served as an assistant manager of Marquez Lopez’s side that defended the Asian Cup title at home in 2024.
Contrary to Garcia and Marquez Lopez, the Qatar job will be Lopetegui’s second time handling a national team.
The Basque-born was in charge of the Spanish national team from 2016 to 2018 after relatively successful spells in charge of the U-19, U-20 and U-21 sides.
He enjoyed a 20-game unbeaten run with the senior side before getting sacked on the eve of the 2018 World Cup in Russia after Real Madrid announced him as their manager ahead of the tournament.
A successful first half during his tenure in Qatar could see him take his side to the World Cup in North America next year.
The Qataris are still in contention for an indirect spot in the expanded 48-team tournament, subject to better performances in the fourth round.
Qatar were the favourites for a direct qualification spot, fresh off the continental win. Yet, defeats against the UAE, Iran, and most recently Kyrgyzstan have put them out of the top two.
Expectations on Lopetegui will not only consist of steadying the ship, but bringing the team up to par with their high days.
A goalkeeper in his playing days, Lopetegui brings plenty of managerial experience, having led the likes of Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla in the Spanish league as well as Porto just across the border in Portugal.
His most recent managerial stint was with English Premier League side West Ham United, and he has been without a job since January 2025. Before that, he was in charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers for half a season.
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