The Iraqi Football Federation on Monday reinstated Adnan Hamad as national coach after sacking Norwegian Egil Olsen.
Olsen was sacked because of Iraq's failure to beat China in the two sides' opening 2010 World Cup qualification game earlier this month, federation general secretary Ahmad Abbas said.
The match, held in Dubai, ended in a 1-1 draw with Iraq down to 10 men for the final 20 minutes.
It will be Hamad's fourth period in charge of the national team, the current Asian champions.
The former international striker first coached Iraq in 2000, briefly took up the reins again in 2002 World Cup qualifying, and then guided the Iraq team to fourth place in the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.