Matthias Krug, the author of “Journeys on a Football Carpet” and world-renowned sport’s journalist, is the first German to be born in Qatar.

His father, Joachim Krug is one of the first foreign athletic coaches to arrive in Qatar in 1982 and currently, he’s a coaching staff member of the Qatar National Team.

Being born and raised in Qatar in a family obsessed with sports allowed him to see firsthand how rapidly the nation’s athletic and football landscape developed over the years.

Whenever he traveled around the world, he was surprised that people knew very little about Qatar’s fascinating and ever-developing sports history, which inspired him to write this book.

The book not only relates some of his family’s very personal experiences but also documents the experiences of a nation and the inspiring people who helped shape those journeys on the sporting fields.

The book echoes Qatar’s significant football achievements and the country’s incredible transformation over the years. It contains a lot of interviews from Qatari legends from its earliest days. The book also inspires young adults.

Football in Qatar was first introduced in the late 1940s and developed rapidly in the 1950s. Doha Stadium was the first proper football venue in the region. In 1973, the historic Doha Stadium hosted Brazilian World Cup hero Pele. The book also tells a story about it.

Don’t forget to get your book signed by the author himself at Doha International Book Fair on Thursday, January 16, at 7:00 pm. You can also get a personalized message on the book for your loved ones.

“Journeys on a Football Carpet” is available in the HBKU Press Bookstore (located in the College of Islamic Studies Building, Education City) and in bookstores across Qatar; Jarir Bookstore, Virgin Megastore, Fnac, WHSmith, and on Amazon Kindle as an eBook.

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