Al Ittihad replace Soares with Calderon

AFC - Two-time AFC Champions League winners Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia gave the boot to coach Estevam Soares on Tuesday and replaced the Brazilian with Argentine veteran Gabriel Calderon on Tuesday.

The announcement was made by Al Ittihad President Mohammad Jamal Abu Amarah just two days after the Saudi giants were pipped to the Saudi League title by archrivals Al Hilal 1-0 in the final round in front of home fans.

Soares, 52, took over the reins in mid-December 2007 from Halilhodžić, who had filled the void when Brazilian Candinho stepped down in September 2007 citing personal reasons.

This was only the second time Soares had coached an Asian side after a spell with Olympic Beirut in 2002.

However, Soares’ 48-year-old Argentine successor is no stranger to the demanding Saudi scene, having guided the ‘sons of the desert’ to the finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup though he was sacked inexplicably after the successful run.

Calderon took over the controls of Oman in April 2007 but failed to repeat his magic and was dismissed after a poor performance at the AFC Asian Cup last year.

The Argentine’s first test in charge of the Jeddah powerhouse comes on April 23 when they take on Iran’s Sepahan in an AFC Champions League Match Day 4 encounter.