RIJKAARD SET FOR SAUDI JOB

RIYADH (AFP) - Saudi Arabia are set to name Dutchman Frank Rijkaard as national team coach with the aim of qualifying the Gulf side for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil, a Saudi football federation source told AFP.

The post had been due to go to Brazilian coach Ricardo Gomes, but the deal fell through at the last moment over a disagreement on the starting date.

'The contract with Rijkaard is 99 percent done,' the federation source told AFP.

'But after what happened with Ricardo, the Saudi federation will not make an official announcement until everything has been agreed.'

Press reports said that Rijkaard had been offered a three-year contract and would take charge in time to prepare the team for the Asian World Cup qualifiers.

The reports also said that the deal with Ricardo fell through because he had wanted to start at a later date to respect the terms of his current contract with Brazilian side Vasco de Gama.

Former Barcelona and Netherlands coach Rijkaard has been out of work since being sacked by Turklish side Galatasaray last October.

Saudi Arabia have been without a manager since the sacking of Portuguese boss Jose Peseiro after his side crashed out of January's Asian Cup in Qatar, losing all three games.

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