Brazil legend Zico is set to become the next big name foreign coach to ply his trade in the Middle East as he is on the verge of taking over as coach of the Iraq national team.
“Everything has been agreed. The only thing missing is the signature,” Zico is quoted as saying in sports daily Lance on Monday. “Everything else has been resolved.”
Zico added that the contract will take him up to the Asian Games in 2013, although it is likely to be extended should Iraq qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Zico, now 58, was regarded as one of the finest players of his generation – earning the nickname the ‘White Pele’ – and starred in three World Cups for Brazil, including the 1982 team which to this day is still revered as one of the greatest despite the Selecao failing to lift the trophy.
Having enjoyed an illustrious 23 year career, the majority of which was spent in his homeland with Flamengo, Zico then moved into coaching, taking charge of Japanese side Kashima Antlers with whom he hung up his boots in 1994.
He would late manage Japan between 2002 and 2006, winning the Asian Cup in 2004 and leading them to the World Cup finals in Germany. Since then, he has enjoyed trophy laden spells with Turkish giants Fenerbahce, Bunyodkor in Uzbekistan and CSKA Moscow in Russia.
Having been asked as boss of Greek heavyweights Olympiacos in 2010 Zico as now opted to continue his coaching career in the Arab world where he will join old adversary Diego Maradona (Al Wasl), Carlos Queiroz (Iran) and compatriot Sebastiao Lazaroni (Qatar).
