AFC - Two-time AFC Champions
League winners Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia gave the boot to coach Estevam
Soares on Tuesday and replaced the Brazilian with Argentine veteran Gabriel
Calderon on Tuesday.
The announcement was made by Al Ittihad President Mohammad Jamal Abu Amarah
just two days after the Saudi giants were pipped to the Saudi League title
by archrivals Al Hilal 1-0 in the final round in front of home fans.
Soares, 52, took over the reins in mid-December 2007 from Halilhodžić, who
had filled the void when Brazilian Candinho stepped down in September 2007
citing personal reasons.
This was only the second time Soares had coached an Asian side after a spell
with Olympic Beirut in 2002.
However, Soares’ 48-year-old Argentine successor is no stranger to the
demanding Saudi scene, having guided the ‘sons of the desert’ to the finals
of the 2006 FIFA World Cup though he was sacked inexplicably after the
successful run.
Calderon took over the controls of Oman in April 2007 but failed to repeat
his magic and was dismissed after a poor performance at the AFC Asian Cup
last year.
The Argentine’s first test in charge of the Jeddah powerhouse comes on April
23 when they take on Iran’s Sepahan in an AFC Champions League Match Day 4
encounter.
