Al Duhail Appoints Christophe Galtier as New Head Coach

Al Duhail, the reigning champions of Qatar, have announced the appointment of Christophe Galtier, the former manager of Paris Saint-Germain, as their new head coach. This decision comes in the wake of the club’s parting ways with the Argentine coach, Hernán Crespo. Galtier, a 57-year-old Frenchman, steps into the role, taking over from former Argentina striker Crespo, who left the Qatari team by mutual consent the day before.

While the announcement does not specify the duration of Christophe Galtier’s contract, it signifies a significant shift in leadership for Al Duhail. Hernán Crespo, at the age of 48, had successfully guided Al Duhail to victory in the Qatar Stars League in the previous season. However, their journey in the Asian Champions League took a blow with a recent 1-0 defeat against Iranian side Persepolis in Doha. As it stands, Al Duhail currently occupies the fourth position in the Qatar Stars League standings, having accumulated 10 points from five matches.

For Galtier, this new role follows his departure from Paris Saint-Germain in July after just one season at the helm, during which he secured the French Ligue 1 title. Galtier’s move to the Middle East mirrors a growing trend among high-profile European names, with many making their way to the Saudi Pro League.

It’s worth noting that Galtier is currently facing legal issues, having been summoned to appear in criminal court on December 15 as part of an investigation into racism allegations during his tenure at his former club, Nice. Both he and his son, John Valovic-Galtier, were detained for questioning in July, in relation to allegations of racist and anti-Muslim comments made during his time in charge of Nice from 2021 to 2022. While his son was subsequently released without charges, Galtier himself was referred to the public prosecutor’s office and is set to stand trial on charges related to psychological harassment and discrimination.

Despite these off-field challenges, Christophe Galtier is preparing to lead his new team in an important fixture against Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr. Al Nassr boasts a star-studded lineup that includes prominent names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané. This match will take place in the Asian Champions League group stage later this month, and it marks a pivotal moment in Galtier’s new journey with Al Duhail.