Riyadh: After just five matches in charge of the Saudi Arabia national team, the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) has announced that head coach Edgardo Bauza has been sacked.
The Argentinian replaced Bert van Marwijk just over two months ago, but the SAFF has decided to go in a different direction, having undergone a period of evaluation on Bauza's time with the team.
Bauza's short stint in charge of the Saudis included a 2-0 victory over Latvia and a 5-2 win over Jamaica, but also defeats to Ghana (3-0), Portugal (3-0) and Bulgaria (1-0); the last two during FIFA's latest international fixtures window.
The decision comes a few days before the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Final Draw takes place in Moscow on December 1, where Saudi Arabia will be in Pot 4.
Van Marwijk helped the Green Falcons qualify for Russia 2018, which will be their fifth FIFA World Cup and first since Germany 2006.
Saudi Arabia will be attempting to surpass their greatest performance at the world finals, which came at USA 1994 when they reached the Round of 16, only to lose to Sweden 3-1.
The federation have not announced Bauza's replacement.
Also seeking a replacement ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018 for a head coach are Australia, after Ange Postecoglou announced his resignation on Wednesday.
Source: FIFA.com
Source: the-afc.com