Saudi Arabia sack Rijkaard as coach

17/01/2013 7:20:00 AM

The former Barcelona boss was dismissed on Wednesday after an early exit from the Gulf Cup, and the football federation wants Sergio Lopez to take over in the immediate future

Frank Rijkaard has been sacked as the Saudi Arabia head coach.

The former Barcelona boss was dismissed by the nation’s football federation after a poor performance in the 2013 Gulf Cup, which saw them crash out at the group stage.

Saudi Arabia were defeated by Iraq 2-0 before succumbing 1-0 to Kuwait, and though they managed to beat neighbouring country Yemen 2-0, they were eliminated before the knock-out stages.

Prior to the sacking, the head of the country’s sport governing body, Prince Nawaf bin Faisal, claimed he would personally pay the €3 million fee to cut Rijkaard's contract short.

The ex-Netherlands international became the second coach to lose his job at the tournament after Qatar fired Paulo Autuori on Tuesday after they were also knocked out of the Gulf Cup.

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