Saudi Arabia has appointed Portuguese Jose Peseiro as the new manager of the country's soccer squad to replace Nasser Al-Johar.
The 48-year-old Peseiro was selected by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) on Tuesday and is expected to arrive in the country on Friday to ink a final contract.
Peseiro's first match will be against Iran at Tehran's Azadi Stadium in late March.
This is not the first time the Portuguese national will coach in Saudi Arabia. He had earlier coached Riyadh giant Al Hilal in 2005-06.
65-year-old local coach Al-Johar stepped down last Saturday in the wake of a 1-0 defeat to North Korea last week in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.
Saudi Arabia currently sits fourth in Group B with four matches remaining. South Korea retains its top position with eight points, while North Korea is placed second with seven points. Iran is in the third spot with six points, two points clear of Saudi Arabia. The UAE is at the bottom with just one point.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals. Third-place teams face-off in a two-leg play-off with the winner taking on Oceania zone victor New Zealand for a place in the finals.
The 48-year-old Peseiro was selected by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) on Tuesday and is expected to arrive in the country on Friday to ink a final contract.
Peseiro's first match will be against Iran at Tehran's Azadi Stadium in late March.
This is not the first time the Portuguese national will coach in Saudi Arabia. He had earlier coached Riyadh giant Al Hilal in 2005-06.
65-year-old local coach Al-Johar stepped down last Saturday in the wake of a 1-0 defeat to North Korea last week in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.
Saudi Arabia currently sits fourth in Group B with four matches remaining. South Korea retains its top position with eight points, while North Korea is placed second with seven points. Iran is in the third spot with six points, two points clear of Saudi Arabia. The UAE is at the bottom with just one point.
The top two teams in each group qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals. Third-place teams face-off in a two-leg play-off with the winner taking on Oceania zone victor New Zealand for a place in the finals.

Comment