The Qatar Football Association announced the decision on Saturday. Autuori has been in charge of the Qatar Olympic team for the last five months.

The 55-year-old’s immediate task will be to manage the team in the 2014 World Cup Asian Zone qualifier against Iran in Tehran on February 29.

Autuori has been one of the most successful coaches to have reached Qatar in recent times. In the 2007-08 season, he joined Al Rayyan, who were then more of sleeping lions, and was instrumental in transforming them into a winning unit. Under him, they won the Emir’s Cup in the last two seasons.

The Qatar Under-23 side too delivered a competent display under him.

Having spent nearly four years in Qatar, Autuori is quite familiar with the national team members.

A former Peru national team coach, Autuori has also managed many leading sides in his home country. His most memorable moment at the club level came in 2005 when he led Sao Paulo to the Club World Cup.