RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Vasco da Gama coach Ricardo Gomes has signed a $13 million deal to coach Saudi Arabia’s national soccer team for three years.
The Saudi Arabia Football Federation said on Saturday that Youth Welfare chief Prince Nawaf bin Faisal had signed an initial contract with Gomes, who is to arrive in the kingdom next week.
The Saudis had been without a coach since a woeful Asian Cup campaign in January, when they fired Jose Peseiro and then his replacement, Nassir al-Johar.
Gomes led Vasco to its first Brazilian Cup last week after taking over the team in February.
He started in Brazil’s defense at the 1990 World Cup, and previously coached Brazil’s Olympic team, Sao Paulo, Flamengo, Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Bordeaux.
