RIYADH: Saudi Arabia have jettisoned so many managers over the past decade that it is a wonder they have not yet fitted their coach’s place on the bench with an ejector seat.
When Gabriel Calderon was axed soon after guiding the Saudis to their fourth consecutive World Cup finals, he became the 15th manager to find himself axed in the past 12 years.
While Calderon’s successor, Marcos Paqueta, might be safe, just, until the World Cup, the chances of him being given the bullet before the tournament is out are strong if recent history is anything to go by.
Saudi football’s notoriously trigger-happy paymasters have routinely hired and fired in mid-tournament — sacking coaches at the 1998 World Cup as well at the 2000 and 2004 Asian Cups.
Ironically, 2002 World Cup coach Nasser al-Johar survived in his position despite seeing his team humiliated 8-0 in their opening match four years ago.
That al-Johar retained his post, though, probably had something to do with the fact that the Saudis had no-one else left to turn to. In any case, al-Johar was given his marching orders soon after the tournament.
So although Paqueta views his appointment as a “medium to long-term job”, he is acutely aware that he could only be one bad result away from the sack in Germany, where Saudi Arabia face Spain, Tunisia and Ukraine in Group H.
Nevertheless Paqueta wants to convert the pressure of having the Sword of Damocles hanging over him into a positive.
“Every coach in the world lives under pressure 24 hours a day and you can’t escape from that,” says Paqueta.
“But I don’t think it’s that bad. Pressure just motivates me. It’s like a fuel that I transform into positive energy for myself.”
Paqueta is also fully versed in the ways of Saudi Arabian football, having forged a successful club management career with Riyadh side Al Hilal before taking over the reins of the national team.
Paqueta, who led his homeland to victories at the both the Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups, is the latest in the long line of Brazilian coaches to earn a living in Saudi Arabia.
“There is a certain similarity between Arab and Brazilian players,” says Paqueta.
“The climate is similar, the playing style too. All of this is helpful for a Brazilian coaching here.
“We understand how Arab players think, we respect their habits and we believe that Saudi Arabia have everything it takes to pull off a surprise.” Who that surprise might come against is anyone’s guess, but Paqueta is relishing the chance of playing Spain, who have been a lucky team for him in past competitions.
“They are the strongest team but I am very happy to be in the same group as Spain,” says Paqueta. “We beat them in the 2003 World Youth Championship finals.
“We are in a difficult group but a competition like the World Cup always produces lots of surprises.
“Several teams that arrived as the favourites in 2002 did not get past the first round. As long as I know that our team has played to its potential I will be happy with our performance.” Worryingly for Paqueta, he saw his team lose 2-0 to fellow finalists the Czech Republic in a warm-up match at Innsbruck on Friday. (AFP) |
