Stielike goes into the unknown as he takes over Qatari club

Former Swiss and Ivory Coast manager Uli Stielike has been appointed coach of Qatari club side Al Arabi it was revealed on Tuesday despite admitting he knew nothing about Qatar football or any of his players.The 53-year-old – a member of the then West German side that lost to Italy in the 1982 World Cup final – was first approached at the end of December and has agreed an 18-month contract with the Qatari side.”I have been to Doha on several occasions, but I can't honestly say that I know much about Qatari football,” admitted Stielike.”For example, I do not know any of my new club's players.”Stielike, who guided the Ivory Coast to the 2008 African Nations Cup finals but was unable to take them to Ghana after his son died, has not worked since being sacked by Swiss team Sion after just 13 matches of this season's Swiss championship.