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Iraq fires Brazilian football coach
Iraq has fired its Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira following the team's disappointing performance in last month's Gulf Cup, a senior sports official said.
- Associated Press
- Updated: February 07, 2009 06:14 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
Baghdad:
The decision ends Vieira second stint in charge of the team.
Previously, he led Iraq to a 2007 Asian Cup title before stepping down unexpectedly shortly afterward.
Vieira returned to coach the team in September, but the head of the Iraq Football Federation, Najeh Hamoud, said it had decided to terminate his contract.
Vieira's Iraqi assistant, Rahim Hameed, has also had his contract terminated.
Hamoud said Iraqi coach Radhi Shunashi will take over the team's training on a temporary basis.
"Shunashi will train the Iraqi team temporarily until we appoint another foreign coach," Hamoud said yesterday.
Iraq failed to register a victory in the Gulf Cup, losing to Bahrain and hosts Oman and drawing 1-1 with Kuwait.
The Iraqi football team has had a string of disappointments since its surprising Asian Cup win, which prompted Iraqis to defy fears of violence and pour into the streets in a rare show of unity and celebration.
The team's Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad was dismissed and the entire squad disbanded in June after a loss to Qatar ended the country's hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
Iraq has not played a home game in nearly two decades because of war and internal strife, although the team has held training sessions in Baghdad amid an overall decline in violence.
Since the US-led invasion in 2003, the national squad has been training mostly in neighboring Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Iraq last reached the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.
Iraq has fired its Brazilian football coach Jorvan Vieira following the team's disappointing performance in last month's Gulf Cup, a senior sports official said.The decision ends Vieira second stint in charge of the team.
Previously, he led Iraq to a 2007 Asian Cup title before stepping down unexpectedly shortly afterward.
Vieira returned to coach the team in September, but the head of the Iraq Football Federation, Najeh Hamoud, said it had decided to terminate his contract.
Vieira's Iraqi assistant, Rahim Hameed, has also had his contract terminated.
Hamoud said Iraqi coach Radhi Shunashi will take over the team's training on a temporary basis.
"Shunashi will train the Iraqi team temporarily until we appoint another foreign coach," Hamoud said yesterday.
Iraq failed to register a victory in the Gulf Cup, losing to Bahrain and hosts Oman and drawing 1-1 with Kuwait.
The Iraqi football team has had a string of disappointments since its surprising Asian Cup win, which prompted Iraqis to defy fears of violence and pour into the streets in a rare show of unity and celebration.
The team's Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad was dismissed and the entire squad disbanded in June after a loss to Qatar ended the country's hopes of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
Iraq has not played a home game in nearly two decades because of war and internal strife, although the team has held training sessions in Baghdad amid an overall decline in violence.
Since the US-led invasion in 2003, the national squad has been training mostly in neighboring Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Iraq last reached the World Cup in Mexico in 1986.
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