Croat Blazevic tops Al-Ittihad wish-list

MEF - Riyadh-based popular daily Okaz revealed on Monday Al-Ittihad are tipping Croat manager Miroslav Blazevic as their upcoming new boss, barely one week after being kicked out of the Arab Club Championship held at home.

“Top club officials are now tabling this issue in Paris with the Croat agent, and things should be clear in the upcoming few days,” added today’s editorial of Okaz.

Blazevic is no strange to the game in the Gulf region, having already guided Iran in the 2002 World cup qualifiers, the Gulf outfits failing to make it to Korea and Japan lasts summer.

Stade Tunisien handed hosts Al-Ittihad a 4-2 home defeat in front of 27,000 local crowd, before being beaten to the Arab Club Championship title 2-1 by Al-Ahly of Jeddah in a thrilling finale.

“Brazilian manager Oscar handed his resignation to the club administration only few hours following the exit from the tournament, officials asked him to remain at the hot spot before finding a suitable replacement,” Okaz went on saying.

Al-Ittihad, who regained the league standings pole position after beating Al-Ittifaq 2-1 away from home on Sunday, are also looking to complete their 3-foreign players quota.

“Algerian schemer Rafik Saifi of French outfits ES Troyes is very linked with the club, he is expected to land in Jeddah this afternoon as a result of fruitful negotiations with the club senior officials during the week in Paris,” revealed Okaz.

Former Liverpool and West Ham Guinean striker Titi Camara, Brazilian marksman Kleberson are the other 2 foreign players recently signed by Al-Ittihad.