SAUDI ARABIA are set to announce former Premier League star Giorgos Donis as their new manager ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Saudi football chiefs recently sacked former boss Herve Renard, who coached the national team during the 2022 World Cup and led them to a before Lionel Messi and co won the trophy.
Giorgos Donis is set to be announced as Saudi Arabia manager ahead of the 2026 World Cup Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Donis became the first ever Greek player to compete in the Premier League when he joined Blackburn Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Donis, 56, is set to be confirmed as Renard’s successor and will lead the Green Falcons in the summer’s tournament that takes place in the US, Canada and Mexico in June.
According to Sport24 , the experienced tactician is set to receive the most lucrative contract ever given to a Greek manager.
The former ace will be paid a whopping £4.5million for a deal that will run for one-and-a-half years.
The deal will see Donis overseeing the as well as the Arabian Gulf Cup and Asian Cup that will follow.
The Greek tactician will make his debut on May 31 when take on Ecuador in a friendly match scheduled to take place in New Jersey.
The Saudi team will then take on Uruguay, and Cape Verde in the World Cup’s group stage.
Donis has a lot of experience in Saudi football after previously coaching the likes of Al-Hilal, Al-Wehda, AL-Fateh and most recently Al-Khaleej.
The former ace enjoyed immense success during his one-year stint at Al-Hilal where he won the King Cup of Champions, Saudi Super Cup and Saudi Crown Prince Cup in 2016.
The ex-Greece international also enjoyed some notable stints in Greece where he managed the likes of Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, PAOK, Atromitos and AEL, where he won the Greek Cup in 2007.
The former winger also had a stellar career as a player, especially with former European finalists Panathinaikos where he won two league titles and three Greek Cups during his eight-year stint with the Greek giants.
The former forward also played a key role in PAO’s stunning run during the 1995-96 season that saw them making it to the semi-finals and just missing out on the final after a shock loss to Ajax.
Donis left Panathinaikos in 1996 and joined Blackburn where he became the first ever Greek player to compete in the .
He amassed a total of two goals and one assist in 25 appearances with the Rovers until his return to Greece for AEK in 1997.
Donis returned to England two years later for Sheffield United where he registered one goal in seven appearances.
A few months later he moved to where he made 25 appearances across all competitions before his retirement in 2000.
Donis looks set to be replaced by Tottenham and hero Gus Poyet as manager of Khaleej.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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