The Qatar Football Association (QFA) Friday announced that national team head coach Felix Sanchez’s contract will not be renewed. For over five years, the Spaniard was in charge of the Qatar team which coincided with one of Al Annabi’s most successful eras, including leading them to their maiden Asian Cup title in 2019.
However, Qatar under Sanchez faltered on the big stage at the FIFA World Cup at home when they were the first team to be eliminated from the tournament following defeats by Ecuador (2-0), Senegal (3-1) and the Netherlands (0-2).
The 47-year-old Sanchez took up the senior team reins in 2017 having first joined Qatar's Aspire Academy in 2006 before then managing the country's Under-19 side. Qatar underwent a six month training camp in Europe before the World Cup, with the team also competing in the 2019 Copa America and at last year’s Concacaf Gold Cup. But at their historic maiden World Cup appearance all plans fell apart.
There was indication that Sanchez’s contract would not be renewed when QFA named U-23 coach Bruno Pinheiro has the coach of the 27-member squad for the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup to be held in Basra, Iraq, from January 6 to 19, 2023. Many of the senior players – including captain Hassan al-Haydos, Akram Afif, Almoez Ali, Abdulaziz Hatem, Karim Boudiaf, Abdelkarim Hassan, Boualam Khoukhi, Bassam Al Rawi, Saad al-Sheeb and Pedro Miguel – who did duty at the World Cup were also rested.
While QFA said it will appoint a new coach shortly, there have been rumours of former Iran coach Carlos Queiroz being approached for the role. An announcement though is not likely to be made until the end of the Gulf Cup. In a statement Friday QFA said: “Coach Felix Sanchez and the QFA have mutually decided to start a new chapter after his current contract expires on December 31. The QFA will decide on the new head coach to lead the next phase of the national team shortly, but would like to express its most sincere gratitude to coach Felix.”
QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani called Sanchez a ‘friend’ and said Qatar was grateful for his service and wished best for the future. “Felix has been not only our coach, but also our friend. The football family of Qatar will always be grateful for the success he has brought to Qatari football over the years. Coach Felix will always have a special place with us, and we hope he always thinks of Qatar as his home,” Sheikh Hamad said in a statement.
QFA said Sanchez expressed his desire to pursue new opportunities, while also showing gratitude for his years at the QFA: The Spaniard was quoted as saying in the statement: “The past five years with Qatar’s senior national team have been a once in a lifetime opportunity. I can only thank the QFA, President Sheikh Hamad, and the country’s leaders for their trust and support during a period in which we achieved a lot together. Qatar, its people, and its football will always be in my heart. Now is a good time to let others take on the responsibility of the team and for me to explore new challenges.”