Doha: Saudi Arabia coach Jose Peseiro was sacked after Saudi Arabia were stunned by Syria 2-1 in a Group B match in Doha on Sunday night in the Asian Cup.
The Portuguese coach, who was under fire for some time now, particularly by the Saudi media, was given the boot soon after their opening match defeat.
Naser Al Johar will now step in as care-taker coach for the remainder of the tournament, in which Saudi Arabia have made it to every final in the last five editions and won three of them.
“The performance was bad and we want to correct things before the next two matches,” said Saudi Football Federation President HRH Prince Sultan Bin Fahd on television while confirming Peseiro's departure.
Peseiro, a former Al Hilal and Panathinaikos coach, took over from Al Johar in 2009 but failed to see Saudi Arabia qualify for the 2010 Fifa World Cup and late last year they also lost the Gulf Cup final to Kuwait.
Al Johar will now lead the team against Jordan (January 13) and Japan (January 17)
