DOHA – Saudi Arabia axed coach Nasser Al Johar after just two games on Tuesday and vowed to replace him with a high-profile international name as the fallout from their dismal Asian Cup intensified.
The country also accepted the resignation of team manager Fahd Al-Misaibeeh and his staff, the Saudi state news agency SPA, monitored here, said.
It followed the former regional powerhouse’s humiliating 5-0 defeat by Japan on Monday, which left them bottom of their group with three straight defeats and out of the tournament.
It was only the second time in Asian Cup history that Saudi Arabia have not made it to the knockout stages. They had been expected to compete for the title alongside the likes of Japan, Australia and South Korea. The recriminations had already started with their Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro – a former assistant to Carlos Queiroz at Real Madrid – fired after their opening match loss to Syria.
When they crashed 1-0 to Jordan in their second game, King Abdullah removed Prince Sultan Bin Fahd as president of the Saudi Football Federation.
His deputy, Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal, replaced him.
“The Saudi Soccer Federation has accepted the resignation of Fahd Al-Misaibeeh, manager of the Saudi national team, and his crew, and relieved Nasser Al-Johar of his post as the current team’s coach,” SPA said, citing a statement from Prince Nawaf.
