Qatar fire coach Milovan Rajevac

Serbian Milovan Rajevac is sacked after only a few months in charge as Qatar move onto their third coach this year.

Milovan Rajevac
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Rajevac had said he hoped to make history with Qatar and help them qualify for 2014 World Cup [GALLO/GETTY] 

Qatar has fired Serbia’s Milovan Rajevac after only four months in charge of the national side, replacing him with Brazilian Sebastiao Lazaroni.

The unexpected move announced late on Sunday comes after Qatar were beaten by Vietnam last month in the second leg of their 2014 World Cup qualifier.

They still advanced 4-2 on aggregate.

Lazaroni, who previously led local club Qatar SC, is the third coach this year for the Gulf nation, which is under pressure to improve after winning the bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

The 54-year-old Rajevac had a contract through to the 2014 World Cup.

Rajevac, who coached Ghana until 2010, then Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli, said last month he hoped to make history with Qatar by helping them qualify for the World Cup.

“We thank him for his efforts. But we feel this is a time to move on so we mutually agreed to end the contract”

Qatar FA statement

Rajevac could not be reached for comment but in a statement the Qatar Football Association hinted that his departure was connected to the Vietnam loss.

It described the team as qualifying for the group stage of the Asian zone qualifier “in rather alarming fashion.”

“We thank him for his efforts. But we feel this is a time to move on so we mutually agreed to end the contract,” Qatar Football Association President Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani said in a statement.

Lazaroni coached Brazil at the 1990 World Cup, where his side was eliminated in the second round by Argentina. He has since coached Turkish side Fenerbahce, which ended the 40-year undefeated European home record of Manchester United in the Champions League in 1996.

Lazaroni has also managed teams in China, the Caribbean and Japan. He was named Qatar’s coach of the year in 2009.

Lazaroni is likely to take charge of the team as soon as Wednesday for their friendly against Iraq.

Source: AP