Al Tai’s Radoi latest in long line of Romanian managers to tackle Saudi Pro League
There is a long-standing relationship between Romanian coaches and football in Saudi Arabia.
Nobody can forget the success that Anghel Iordanescu had in establishing Al Ittihad as the best team in Asia and Al Hilal had four in succession from the European country towards the end of this century’s first decade.
When Mirel Radoi arrived in Saudi Arabia to take charge of Al Tai, he was welcomed by his Romanian counterpart Marius Sumudica who is head coach of Al Raed.
“It is always good when another Romanian coach comes,” Sumudica told media back in Bucharest on January 23, just a few days after Radoi was named as Al Tai’s tactician. “It shows that we are held in high regard.”
Radoi, a former coach of Romania and title-winning midfielder with Al Hilal, knows that his task is not going to be easy and is certainly not going to be boring. Until February 16, Al Tai were the only team in the top tier not to draw a single game this season.
It is not a surprise then that the team’s form has been up and down.
Five of the first seven games were won to suggest that there could be a repeat, or even an improvement, of last season’s top-six finish.
But five of the next six games ended in defeat which led to the departure of Portuguese boss Pepa. On January 23, Radoi was announced as the new coach, taking over a team low on confidence.
He was unfortunate that his first two games were against title hopefuls Al Shabab and Al Ittihad and it was no surprise that both ended with a loss. Few teams in Asia can match the talent that those two teams possess.
They were, however, narrow defeats by just a single goal. The displays provided Radoi with encouragement.
Then came a fine 2-0 win over Ettifaq, a team that have taken points off the likes of Al Hilal and Al Ittihad already this season. It was a solid defensive performance from Al Tai and the team took their chances when they came.
In the following game at struggling Al Adalah, there looked to be a second-successive victory on the cards. Al Tai had fallen behind to a goal from Cristofer Gonzales just before the hour mark.
Yet the response was perfect as the northwesterners not only turned it around within three minutes, but within six were ahead.
Zimbabwe’s Knowledge Musona equalised and then Mukhtar Ali made it 2-1 for the visitors. Yet soon after, the hosts scored to make it 2-2 and while Al Tai pushed forward in search of what would have been the winner, they had to settle for a point for the first time this season.
Radoi was not in the mood to settle for anything, however. “I am not satisfied with the point we got today,” he told SSC TV. “We wanted all three but conceded two goals due to mistakes.
“I am responsible for today’s result and we will be sure to work to correct such mistakes and return to winning ways.”
A trip to Al Fateh next time will be a good test, but it does seem that Al Tai look to be heading in the right direction.