At the AFC Congress at the end of April, there was plenty of action unfolding at the Gulf Hotel in Bahrain. Amid the machinations, manipulations and manoeuvrings, an occasional question about football was even asked. One found its way to a high-ranking member of the Qatari delegation and asked whether Michael Laudrup was going to be the next coach of the national team. The shake of the head was definite. So it proved as Jose Daniel Carreno was appointed earlier this month.
– #360view: De Gea exit can benefit Man Utd
The Qatari FA is always keen to appoint a coach with experience of the country. Djamel Belmadi, the last occupant of one of Asia's warmer seats, certainly had this and when the Algerian was appointed in March 2014, he took the team on an excellent run of results including an impressive Gulf Cup triumph in Saudi Arabia in November. The Maroons arrived in Australia for the Asian Cup in January as the continent's form team.
Three defeats followed on the back of a lack of defensive organisation and individual mistakes. The coach alienated fans and especially media with his dour demeanour. Results are all important but then again a little salesmanship never hurt anyone. A miserable expression before the start of the tournament had become murderous by the time the team finished bottom of the group. It was expected that the bullet would come, and despite subsequent friendly wins over Algeria and Slovenia, it duly did.
Belmadi's time will come again but for Qatar, it is running out. The start of qualification for the 2018 World Cup is just weeks away. The group is not too tricky with just China likely to be fighting it out for top spot and an automatic place in the final round of qualification. Their chances don’t end there with four of the eight second place teams also qualifying. That should be well within Qatar's grasp but then you can't be too careful. And then there's the fact that even if games against the likes of Bhutan, Maldives and Hong Kong should not be too tough, they are great opportunities for a new coach to spend some priceless FIFA dates with his team.
Carreno has had time in Qatar with Al Arabi and the Uruguayan has extensive experience in his native South America. He could be just the man that the Maroons are looking for but Laudrup just lifted the the Qatar Stars League title with Lekhwiya in his first season at the club. While taking 'The Cops' to a fourth championship in five years is not exactly equivalent to lifting the League Cup with former club Swansea, it was done competently and professionally. Under Laudrup, the team looks slicker and is harder to beat, while carrying a goal threat from all areas of the pitch.
His contract is only a year long and only Laudrup knows if he will stay for another league season. Most believe he will not but there is still time to decide one way or the other. Before that, however, comes the small matter of the Asian Champions League. He has taken the team to the knockout stage and there was nothing stopping him from staying in charge of Lekhwiya for those games later this month while at the same time preparing the national team for June's tests.
Qatar are desperate to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. So are plenty of others but nobody in Doha wants a first ever appearance in the biggest party on the planet to come in 2022 simply because they are the hosts. Qualifying for Russia sends a signal that the country is no footballing minnow as well as helping four years later in terms of experience and lessons learned.
Laudrup had the experience to handle the pressure and expectations as well as the profile to motivate and excite. Sure, he is not going to be around in 2022 but it is unlikely that Carreno will be either. The well-travelled Laudrup may not stay in one job too long but that can be a positive. This is not a man desperate to protect his job at all costs, meaning he can plan for the long term and also stand up to media and the federation. He could have been the perfect choice.
