JEDDAH: Al-Ahli became the first football club to begin rebuilding in the postseason, hiring a new coach and looking to recruit a defender.
Ahli management yesterday announced the club signed Gustavo Alfaro, a 47-year old from Argentina, to a contract and he is expected to arrive in the Kingdom along with five of his assistants anytime soon.
Ahli had been in talks with Alfaro for more than three weeks until the Argentine agreed to take the job. He was being groomed to coach the Argentinian team Boca Juniors but decided to try a new experience and coach outside Argentina.
A former footballer, Alfaro most recently managed Rosario Central, but left due to poor results in the beginning of the Clausura 2009 with Central in danger of relegation.
Alfaro had a short career as a footballer and was captain of the Atlético de Rafaela team that won promotion to the Primera División Argentina in 1989.
Alfaro retired from football in 1992 to concentrate on his coaching career
In 2001 Alfaro became the manager of Olimpo. He led Olimpo to the Primera B Nacional Apertura 2001 championship and promotion to the Primera[2].
Alfaro helped Arsenal de Sarandi to two fifth-place finishes, allowing the club to qualify for the Copa Libertadores for the first time in their history.
They also earned qualification for the Copa Sudamericana. They beat reigning Argentine champions San Lorenzo in the qualifying round to earn a place in the round of 16 where they faced Brazilian team Goiás.
Ahli is eyeing Saif Ghezal, a 29-year old playing with BSC Young Boys football club in the Swiss League. Ahli management has given the green light for the club’s Tunisian star Khaled Badra to negotiate with Ghezal. Libyan defender Younus Al-Shebani is also being considered in case the Ghezal deal fell through.
