Julen Lopetegui Appointed as Qatar's National Team Coach

Julen Lopetegui returns to international football. The former Spain coach from 2016 to 2018 takes charge of Qatar's national team, replacing fellow Spaniard Luis García, who was dismissed after less than five months with only one win in five matches and the qualification for the 2026 World Cup uncertain.

The main objective for the Basque coach in his Doha venture will be to secure Qatar's progression to the fourth round of Asian qualifiers, as the team has already missed out on one of the six direct spots from the third phase.

Lopetegui embraces the challenge, signing a contract until June 2027 after ending his brief tenure at West Ham in January. His half-season stint in London saw him leave the team 14th in the Premier League after 20 matches, failing to meet expectations.

This marks his second managerial experience in England, following a short spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, where he managed 27 games during the 2022-23 season. He resigned in August 2023 due to disagreements with the club over transfer policies.

The Gipuzkoan coach previously led Sevilla to three consecutive Champions League qualifications and a Europa League victory in 2020. His brief tenure at Real Madrid began in the 2018-19 season, and he managed Spain's national team to an unbeaten record in 20 matches before his controversial exit ahead of the 2018 World Cup due to a behind-the-scenes agreement with Madrid. He also managed Porto, Castilla, and Rayo Vallecano, where he retired as a goalkeeper in 2002 and began his coaching career.