Juan Antonio Pizzi
The managerial role for the Saudi Arabian national team has long been in flux. Since 2010 alone, 10 different men have been at the helm for the Green Falcons. It was the Dutchman Bert van Marwijk, now Australia’s lead man, who saw the Saudi team to its first World Cup berth since 2006. However, when contract negotiations with the Saudi FA went awry, Argentinian Edgardo Bauza was the one to receive the call. Yet, after falling short of expectations in a run of friendlies, Bauza too was relieved of his duties. It was fellow Argentinian Juan Antonio Pizzi who there to step in, and it is Pizzi who will lead Saudi Arabia into Russia in June. A former Spanish international, Pizzi guided Chile to the 2016 Copa América title. Aided by the return of star winger Nawaf Al-Abed from injury, the manager will seek to command a performance that inspires confidence in the notoriously impetuous Saudi football federation.
