Argentinian head coach Edgardo Bauza has replaced Bert van Marwijk as head coach of Saudi Arabia just nine days after the country sealed qualification for next summer's 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™.

Bauza was named head coach of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) back in May 2017, and oversaw a 1-1 draw in Thailand, 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia and 1-0 defeat by Iraq in World Cup qualifying during his time with UAE.

Bauza and the UAE FA were able to reach a mutual agreement with the Saudis for the Argentinian to take the head coach's seat for the Green Falcons. Bauza's first task will be to prepare the team for the World Cup next summer, where they are returning to the world finals for the first time since 2006. The 59-year-old coach will be the fourth South American coach to take charge of Saudi Arabia at a World Cup, following in the footsteps of Jorge Solari (at USA 1994), Carlos Alberto Parreira (at France 1998) and Marcos Paqueta (at Germany 2006).