Michael Laudrup's quiet arrival can help Qatar make a big noise at the 2018 World Cup

If you could go back to the summer of 2013 and tell European fans that Michael Laudrup would land a new coaching job in the middle of the 2014 World Cup, well, most would expect the Danish legend to be signing for one of the giants of football.

A year ago, he was basking in the glory of having led Swansea City to a first ever trophy, playing the kind of football not often seen in the English Premier League. Young, sophisticated, with a glittering playing career behind him and still plenty, so it would seem, ahead.

Yet, there he was on July 1, being unveiled as the new coach of Qatari club. There wasn't much fanfare around and while part of that can be put down to events in Brazil, not all can.

After being fired by the Welsh team in February, Laudrup's star has fallen somewhat but still, his capture is a coup for the Doha outfit and will not have gone down badly with the league and country either.

Laudrup has coached in his native Denmark, Spain, Russia and England and moves outside Europe for the first time. Lekhwiya believe that he is the man to take them to the next level.

Already the club is ruling the roost at home winning all three of their titles in the past four years. Now they want more with success with the Asian Champions League just a start. Laudrup's task is to deliver on the pitch while raising the profile of his new employers and Qatari football in general off it.

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But it is also about restoring a reputation that has been tarnished a little after his Swansea sacking. Despite the cup win, results in the English Premier League were deteriorating while concerns over a hands-off approach to the nitty-gritty of coaching such as training and analysis of opposition and some of his signings were growing.

Lekhwiya present a different challenge to the clubs coached before. Here domestic success is starting to be taken for granted yet more is wanted.

If Laudrup succeeds, it could herald a new era in the Qatar Stars League. In the past, Bora Milutinovic, Jorge Fossati and Zico have been some of the standouts but Laudrup is slightly different. He comes straight from Europe with recent and winning experience in the most popular league in the world.

He is not, yet at least, one of those foreign coaches who bounce around different West Asian clubs. It could be that the Dane is the role model for a new kind of coach in Qatar - not another grizzled South American or opportunistic European - but one with a big reputation who still has something still to prove.

There will also be eyes on the new coach of Al Arabi Dan Petrescu, the former Chelsea and Romania legend. Just 45, the former right-back has extensive experience with coaching in Eastern Europe. He is another example of young coach with a fine playing career to look back on.

It is debatable as to whether success in this corner of West Asia could lead such coaches to a major European club but it is certainly could pave the way to the Qatari national team.

2022 is only eight years away and while that may be a lifetime in Middle Eastern football - and Laudrup himself is not a coach with a history of staying in one place too long - but it could work out very well.

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As hosts, Qatar's football mindset is starting to change. Having a relatively big name coach in the league for a couple of years could give that man a crack at the 2018 World Cup, a huge deal for the powers that be in Doha as who wants a debut appearance to come only because of hosting duties?

There have been a number of foreign and domestic bosses of the national team over the years but few have really impressed. A famous and experienced European with success in the Qatar Stars League could be ideal.

The QSL, one of the best-run operations in Asia, is stepping up a level. It is not just about trying to get the biggest names but also the right ones.

Al Sadd's recent signing of Guangzhou Evergrande's Brazilian legend Muriqui was significant. OK, he was replaced in China by Italian international Alberto Gilardino but here is perhaps the biggest and richest club in Asia and the continental champion selling a hugely popular and successful import to a rival.

More than the reported big names such as John Terry and Xavi, Muriqui is the kind of player that Qatari clubs should be buying. World Cup stars Rafik Halliche and Jalal Hosseini, to Qatar Sports Club and Al Ahli respectively, are also interesting additions and this season, with Al Sadd hoping to wrestle back domestic control from Lekhwiya and other contenders in the mix, should be one to remember.

The likes of Laudrup increase the tournament's profile at home and overseas and he will have a major impact on Qatari football regardless of whether or not he ends up with the national team job.

But if he does bring more success to Lekhwiya, the challenge of taking the country to the 2018 World Cup could await.