Adnan Hamad has been appointed as Iraq coach for a fourth time after the Iraq Football Association parted company with under-fire Egil Olsen.Former Norway coach Olsen had been under-pressure after the AFC Asian Cup champions shared a disappointing 1-1 draw with China in the opening game of the third round of World Cup qualifiers at the start of February.

Hamad, who led Al Ansar to the Lebanon League title in 2006, is currently in charge of Jordan's Al Faisaly where he claimed back-to-back AFC Cup titles but his contract is set to end in April.

Former AFC Coach of the Year Hamad, who coached Iraq at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup, will take charge ahead of the World Cup qualifier against Qatar on March 26 in Doha.

"The football association decided to name Adnan Hamad as the coach of the team before the forthcoming match against Qatar," Iraq FA general secretary Ahmed Abbas told Iraq Independent News Agency.

"The decision will end all the speculation and criticism after the 1-1 draw with China. Hamad will take charge of the team about 12 days before Qatar match.

"We would like to thank Hamad for his understanding and for accepting this mission despite his contract with Jordan's Al Faisaly not ending until April 18."

Olsen, who guided Norway to two World Cup finals appearances in 1994 and 1998, signed a three-year contract with Iraq in September after succeeding AFC Asian cup winning coach Jorvan Vieira, who failed to negotiate a new contract with the Iraq FA after initially being handed a three-month contract.

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