Iraq’s Team Coach May Succeed to Verbeek

Brazil's Jorvan Vieira will quit as Iraqi national coach after their Asian Cup final with Saudi Arabia and is in talks to take over from Dutchman Pim Verbeek at South Korea, wire reports said Sunday.

Vieira, 54, only signed a two-month contract with the Iraqi Football Federation and said he had accomplished what he had set out to achieve.

"Yes, I will quit after the match against Saudi Arabia," AFP quoted him as saying.

"I've already taken that decision. It was an opportunity for me to be at the Asian Cup."

Asked where he would go next, he revealed that he is having talks with the Korean Football Association.

"The Korean federation contacted me," he was quoted as saying.

"If we can work out terms there is the potential that I can become the Korean coach sometime in the future. After the tournament we will discuss details."

Current Korean coach Verbeek said after his team's semi-final loss to Iraq in Kuala Lumpur that he had made a decision on his own future but refused to reveal what it was, AFP said.

On the other hand, Yonhap news agency said Sunday that Verbeek has offered to resign amid media criticism over his ability to effectively lead his squad, .

"Verbeek had earlier notified the Korea Football Association of his intention to step down following the Asian Cup match against Japan that ended late Saturday night at Jaka Baring Stadium," Yonhap quoted Lee Won-jae, an association official as saying.

"The contract is supposed to expire next year, but he told the association he would like to end the contract upon the match against Japan," Lee said.

Despite a third place finish at the Asian Cup, the South Korean team has been under media fire over its lack of goals throughout the tournament and a near elimination in the group phase, eventually failing to claim the title it has coveted for over 40 years.

Vieira, who has coached Arab clubs and international teams for more than 20 years, said he and Verbeek were friends and sat next to each other on the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta.

"Verbeek and I were together on the same plane. He didn't tell me anything about resigning but I think he has a good team and I'd be happy to be in his position. Korea has some very good players," the Brazilian said.