Dutch manager Bert van Marwijk spoke to the NOS and gave the reasons behind his departure from the national team of Saudi Arabia.
- By James Rowe
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Saudi Arabia managed to qualify for their first World Cup in 12 years under his tutelage. However, he has now been replaced by Argentinian Edgardo Bauza.
Van Marwijk said, ”After qualifying for the World Cup with Saudi Arabia I stopped the negotiations about continuing with them.
”Last week after qualification was secured a couple of members of my backroom staff were sacked and I find this to be unacceptable.”
Van Marwijk was asked by the Saudi Arabian football association to reside permanently in Saudi Arabia and he stated the following, ”I do not wish to permanently reside in Saudi Arabia for me that is non negotiable.
”I have heard via the media that Edgardo Bauza is my successor so I now know that my time as Saudi Arabia national team manager is over. I have also been contacted by players of the Saudi Arabian national team and they cannot understand why I must leave my position. They really wanted to go to the World Cup in Russia with me at the helm. ”