Bauza leaves UAE to coach Saudi
dubai — The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) will hold a meeting next week to decide on a new coach after Argentina’s Edgardo Bauza left his post to take charge of Saudi Arabia, the UAE Football Association told the Khaleej Times on Friday.
Bauza, the former Argentina coach, who had taken over as the UAE coach in May, leaves the UAE hot seat to join Saudi Arabia, after a request from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
Bauza replaces Dutchman Bert van Marwijk, who had plotted Saudi Arabia’s road to the World Cup in Russia last week.
The 59-year-old Bauza, who was at the helm for three World Cup qualifying matches — against Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, has been tasked with leading Saudi Arabia in Russia, their first appearance since 2006.
“There was a request from the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and the UAE FA agreed to co-operate,” Hassan Al Jasmi, the UAEFA spokesman, told the Khaleej Times.
“The UAEFA will hold a meeting next week and decide on the future,” he added.
The UAEFA also released a statement in Arabic, which translated into English, read: “In a bid to strengthen the unity of the Gulf and strengthen the continuous co-operation between the two brotherly unions, the UAEFA
In a bid to strengthen the unity of the Gulf and strengthen the continuous co-operation between the two brotherly unions, the UAEFA has approved the request of the Saudi Football Association to sign Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza to oversee the training of the Saudi Arabian team.” UAEFA statement
has approved the request of the Saudi Football Association to sign Argentine coach Edgardo Bauza to oversee the training of the Saudi Arabian team.”
“In this regard, the UAEFA thanks former coach Bauza for his time in training the first team and his efforts in the previous period.”
“The UAEFA’s Committee of Teams and Technical Affairs will meet soon to discuss the selection of a new coach for the National team to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup to be held in the UAE in 2019.”
Bauza’s contract with the UAE was supposed to be until the AFC Asian Cup in 2019, on home soil. The UAE drew 1-1 with Thailand, defeated Saudi Arabia 3-1, their first win over them in 10 years, and lost 1-0 to Iraq.