The most successful coach in the history of Qatari handball, Valero Rivera López, has returned for a second stint as head coach of the Qatar men’s senior national team, having previously served in this role from 2013 to 2023.

Rivera, a former coach at FC Barcelona and with the Spain men’s national team, holds three medals at the IHF Men’s World Championship: winning the title with Spain in 2013, and finishing second with Qatar in 2015 and third with Spain in 2011.

Qatar’s handball history is closely linked to Rivera’s influence. Under his leadership, the Asian side became continental champions for the first time in 2014, and went on to secure four additional titles in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022.

Rivera coached Qatar through five editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship, beginning with their historic silver medal on home soil in 2015—the only medal won by an Asian team to date. Qatar also reached the quarter-finals twice: in 2017, losing narrowly to Slovenia 30:32 and finishing eighth; and again in 2021, finishing eighth after a loss to Sweden 23:35.

The team placed 13th in the 2019 World Championship hosted by Germany and Denmark, and 22nd in the 2023 edition in Poland and Sweden. Following the disappointing 2023 result, Rivera was replaced by Goran Djokic.

At the most recent 2025 World Championship in Croatia, Denmark, and Norway, Qatar finished 21st, led by experienced coach Veselin Vujovic, whose contract was not renewed following its expiration this summer.

Rivera has now resumed his position and is tasked with restoring Qatar’s prominence in world handball. The team prepares to vie for a seventh consecutive continental title at the 2026 AHF Asian Men’s Handball Championship, scheduled for January in Kuwait.

“The decision was clear, as Rivera has had a profound impact on Qatari handball’s history, coupled with his vast experience and deep knowledge of Qatari handball and competing teams in continental and international competitions,” stated an official announcement from the Qatari Handball Federation.

Rivera has already begun preparations with the team, focusing on the upcoming Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, this November. The next major challenge will be the 2026 Asian Men’s Handball Championship, serving as the qualification tournament for the 2027 IHF Men’s World Championship.