Al Gharafa roped in Turkish coach Bulent Uygun in place of Frenchman Jean Fernandez.

Bulent is expected to reach Doha soon and take charge of the team well in time for the second phase of QNB Stars League, which starts on 11th January. He is no stranger to Qatar football having coached Umm Salal in 2013-16.

Fernandez had recently helped The Cheetahs lift the QSL Cup by defeating Al Rayyan in the final. However, the club management is also hungry for a far better position in the QNB Stars League standing than their seventh place halfway through.

Al Gharafa have 11 points from two wins, four draws and five defeats. They travel to Al Ahli for their 12th-round match on 12th January.

Football Head Mahmoud Al Ghazal said the contract with Fernandez was ended by mutual consent. He hailed the efforts being made by the club’s board, headed by Sheikh Jassim bin Thamer Al Thani, towards making Al Gharafa a top side.

Al Gharafa will take on Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor in the AFC Champions League play-off on 30th January in Doha.