Farias Signs With Saudi Club Al Ahli
By Yoon Chul
Staff Reporter
Former Pohang Steelers manager Sergio Farias has signed on to coach in Saudi Arabia, just a week after leaving the Korean club.
Farias, who lead the Steelers to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League title with a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad in Tokyo on Nov. 7, had told Pohang officials he wanted to a take a year off.
According to Saudi Arabian media, the Brazilian manager has signed an 18-month contract worth $2.5 million with Jeddah-based Al Ahli.
He reportedly signed the deal on Christmas Day and will join the team on the first day of the new year.
Farias had said that he wanted to take a temporary break from Pohang since there was a lack of international schools in Pohang for his children. When he left the club, he had denied rumors, which first surfaced during the FIFA Club World Cup, that he was set to join Al Ahli.
"It is ridiculous that they publish something which is not true," Farias was quoted as saying at the time. "Teams from West Asia tend to say things before checking all the facts just to show off. This kind of behavior should be avoided."