Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Riyadh: Al Ahli boss Cosmin Olaroiu will lead Saudi Arabia at the AFC Asian Cup 2015 in Australia after his appointment it has been confirmed.
The Green Falcons have been looking for a new coach since December 5 after parting ways with Spanish tactician Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, who won just ten of the 21 matches he had taken charge of.
And with just over three weeks to go to the start of the Asian Cup, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) has moved quickly to find a replacement after announcing the appointment of Olaroiu who is set to return to Al Ahli after his stint Down Under with the West Asian powerhouse.
The Romanian is widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the Middle East helping Al Ain become UAE League champions in back-to-back campaigns from 2011 to 2013, before taking charge of Al Ahli and leading them to the title last season.
According to The National, Olaroiu will take charge of his final game at Al Ahli on Saturday before departing for Saudi Arabia.
“My next job is to prepare Saudi Arabia for the Asian Cup, but I won’t think of anything else until Ahli’s game against Baniyas,” he was quoted as saying.
The 45-year-old brings with him a wealth of experience having begun his managerial career in his homeland and winning the Romanian Liga I with Steaua Bucharest before heading for Asia, where he has also spent time in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
His last spell in Saudi Arabia saw him lead Al Hilal to the Saudi Professional League crown in the 2007/08 season, while he also won the Qatari Stars Cup with Al Saad in 2010.
The Green Falcons, three-time champions of the Asian Cup, kick off their Group B campaign on January 10 against China, before facing off against DPR Korea and Uzbekistan as they look to book their place in the knockout round.