Al-Sadd Bids Farewell to Sanchez as Coaches Chase the Next Big Win
15 October 2025
Al-Sadd Part Ways With Felix Sanchez Bas
Al-Sadd of Qatar officially announced the mutual termination of Spanish head coach Felix Sanchez Bas, effective immediately, as the season presses on and performances waver. The club confirmed that the assistant coach, Sergio Alegre, will take charge on an interim basis while a new foreign coach is pursued.
A Look at Sanchez’s Tenure and the Road Ahead
Over 47 matches in all competitions, Sanchez led the team to 26 wins, 10 draws, and 11 losses, including two domestic titles: the Qatar Stars League and the Qatar Cup. Yet this campaign has been marred by inconsistent results across domestic and continental competitions, accelerating the decision to seek a new direction.
The decision comes amid mounting pressure from supporters and media as the team currently sits seventh in the Qatar Stars League with eight points from six games. The leadership hopes for a quick resolution, aiming to appoint a foreign manager who can restore the club’s title challenge before the season’s critical fixtures.
Before Sanchez’s departure, strong links circulated about a replacement, with the Portuguese coach Bruno Lage emerging as the strongest candidate for the reins. Lage’s candidacy has been discussed in Portuguese outlets amid indications that Sadd is ready to act, despite budgeting and scheduling constraints that come with a high-profile appointment.
Bruno Lage’s candidacy is built on a notable track record. He previously led Benfica from last season through a high-intensity run in which Benfica played 63 matches across all competitions, averaging an impressive 2.33 points per game. His earlier stint with Benfica in 2018-2019 saw 76 matches with a roughly 2.17-point-per-game rate, followed by a spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers (2021-2023) in which he steered 51 matches with about 1.29 points per game. A recent stint at Botafogo in 2023 added another layer to his varied resume.
The club’s plan is to decide on the foreign coach before the end of the month, given the demanding schedule ahead in domestic league play and the Asian Champions League, where the team has faced early challenges this season.
Sadd’s season began with a disappointing loss, followed by a couple of league wins, then a setback against Shania in the third round and a pair of draws in subsequent rounds. The squad’s form has intensified the call for change, and fans’ demand for relief has echoed across social media platforms.
Despite Sanchez’s efforts and a squad featuring some of Qatar’s best talents, including Akram Afif who helped secure a World Cup 2026 qualifying berth for his country, the collective performances did not meet the club’s expectations. The decision to move on reflects the club’s willingness to act decisively in pursuit of renewed success.
Looking ahead, Sadd faces a stern test with an upcoming trip to Umm Salal in the opening of Week 7 of the Doha Bank Qatari League and a busy schedule that will demand adaptability and improved execution. The national team’s international window, which included friendlies against Oman and the UAE, underscored Qatar’s ongoing road to the World Cup 2026 finals and added weight to the club-wide push for better results.
Before It’s Too Late!
As the hunt for a new manager intensifies, the club remains hopeful that their next appointment can stabilize results quickly, restore confidence, and keep the dream of back-to-back titles alive. The road ahead is long, but in football, a fresh voice can move mountains—just not before the press conference ends.
Punchline 1: If patience were a tactic, Sadd would be world champions by now—unfortunately, football doesn’t award trophies for patience. Punchline 2: The next coach might need a map to direct the ball, a compass for the press conference questions, and a spare seat for the fans who still believe in miracles.
