Doha: Qatar Stars League champions Al Sadd have appointed Romanian Razvan Lucescu as their new head coach on a two-year contract until 2028, the club announced on Sunday.
Lucescu replaces Roberto Mancini, who left the club after one season and is widely expected to return to the Italy national team.
Lucescu, 57, arrives after his most recent spell with Greek side PAOK. A former goalkeeper, Lucescu began his coaching career with FC Brașov before leading Rapid București to back-to-back Romanian Cup titles. He later coached the Romania national team and has won six domestic trophies with El Jaish, PAOK and Al Hilal. He also guided Al Hilal to the AFC Champions League title in 2019.
His coaching staff will include three assistant coaches, two fitness coaches, a goalkeeping coach and a performance analyst.
"The signing of coach Razvan Lucescu comes as part of Al Sadd Club's strategy to continue achieving successes and strengthen the team's position at the local and continental levels, in line with the ambitions of the club and its fans," Al Sadd said in a statement.
Lucescu will be tasked with helping Al Sadd build on their Qatar Stars League triumph and challenge for more silverware after the Wolves fell short in the Amir Cup final against Al Gharafa and exited the AFC Champions League Elite at the quarter-final stage last season.
Al Sadd are holding a pre-season training camp in Austria ahead of the new Qatar Stars League season, which begins on August 20.
