RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Now that Saudi Arabia has failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, the judgment is in on national coach Frank Rijkaard: His salary is a waste of money.
Rijkaard, a former Dutch star and Barcelona coach, has been criticized by the council advising the Saudi monarchy.
Monday’s edition of the Saudi daily Al Eqtisadia reports that Shura council members said Rijkaard’s salary would be better spent on youth programs. They said his salary was equivalent to that of 10 ministers and his performance so far didn’t justify it.
Rijkaard signed a three-year deal in June worth $15.9 million. He was expected to turn around a team that was unable to advance past the group stage in the 2011 Asian Cup. Instead, the team won just one of its six World Cup qualifiers.
