Roberto Martínez reportedly agrees deal to take charge of Saudi national team

Media reports have disclosed details of an agreement between the Saudi Arabian Football Federation and Roberto Martínez, the former Portugal coach, for him to take charge of the senior national team in the coming period. Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat says the deal had been finalised before the start of the Arab Gulf Cup the previous month.

The newspaper reports that Matt Crocker, the federation’s technical director, agreed with Martínez on a four-year contract worth an annual salary of 13 million euros. The agreement would also give him the final say within the national team through the 2030 World Cup, to be held in Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

The reports have angered supporters. Georgios Donis’s success in leading the team to the title at the 27th edition of the Arab Gulf Cup, known as “Gulf 27”, has added to the questions surrounding the deal. The agreement could be set aside after that victory, while Donis’s future with the “Greens” is to be reassessed before the Asian competition begins.