Latest update: 25/02/2008 

- football - Iraq


Coach Hamad is back
Coach Hamad is back
The Iraqi football federation has called on Adnan Hamad to lead the national team for the fourth time, in replacement of Norway's Egil Olsen. Hamad had previously guided Iraq to 4th place at the Athens 2004 Olympics.

  
The Iraqi Football Federation on Monday reinstated Adnan Hamad as national coach after sacking Norwegian Egil Olsen.
  
Olsen was sacked because of Iraq's failure to beat China in the two sides' opening 2010 World Cup qualification game earlier this month, federation general secretary Ahmad Abbas said.
  
The match, held in Dubai, ended in a 1-1 draw with Iraq down to 10 men for the final 20 minutes.
  
It will be Hamad's fourth period in charge of the national team, the current Asian champions.
  
The former international striker first coached Iraq in 2000, briefly took up the reins again in 2002 World Cup qualifying, and then guided the Iraq team to fourth place in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
  
Olsen, a former manager of Norway and English side Wimbledon, signed a three-year contract to coach Iraq in September.
  

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