Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: Former Netherlands manager Bert van Marwijk has been appointed head coach of Saudi Arabia, the SAFF (Saudi Arabian Football Federation) have announced via Social Media, with the 63-year-old Dutchman starting a one-year contract with the Green Falcons on September 1.
Van Marwijk (pictured) was previously head coach at Hamburger SV, who he left in February 2014 to end his second job at the helm of a German Bundesliga club following a stint with Borussia Dortmund, which was bookended by two spells with Dutch giants Feyenoord.
In his first foray at the Rotterdam side Van Marwijk led Feyenoord to victory in the 20001/02 UEFA Cup, ironically defeating future employers Borussia Dortmund in the final.
Top of the agenda for Van Marwijk, who is set for only his second stint in international management following a four-year term with his native Netherlands in which he led the Oranje to the 2010 FIFA Word Cup final, is Saudi Arabia’s 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying campaign.
The Saudis had been under the temporary stewardship of Faisal Al Badain who took charge after Cosmin Olaroiu, current head coach of AFC Champions League 2015 quarter-finalists Al Ahli, was seconded from the UAE club to lead the three-time continental champions for their 2015 AFC Asian Cup campaign following the departure of Spaniard Juan Lopez Caro.
Under Al Badain, an assistant coach to Romanian Ioan Andonie as Ettifaq reached the Round of 16 at the 2009 ACL, the Saudis made a winning start in Group A of the joint-qualifiers by defeating Palestine 3-2 in Dammam, home of Ettifaq.
Saudi Arabia are next in action on September 3 when they host a Timor-Leste side that began their campaign with a hugely creditable 1-1 draw in Malaysia before being narrowly beaten 1-0 by 2015 AFC Asian Cup semi-finalists the UAE.
Photo: AFP