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The 63-year-old took the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup
final in South Africa and said he was looking forward to the
chance of going back to the tournament in 2018 with the Middle
Eastern nation.
Van Marwijk told Dutch media that he had taken on the job for
four reasons: sporting ambition, the fact he could take his own
staff along, a one-year contract and a handsome salary.
"That I have no need to deny," he said after agreeing to take on
the post on Tuesday.
"Saudi Arabia is a leading football power in Asia and has the
real potential to qualify for the World Cup. That is my biggest
driver.
"They came close to qualifying for the last two finals and I
would like to make that breakthrough now."
Saudi Arabia must go through two rounds of qualification if they
are to gain a place in the 32-team tournament in Russia.
They have started the first phase in a five-team pool and after
beating Palestine 3-2 in their opening Group A game in June,
next play East Timor in Jeddah on Sept. 3 in Van Marwijk's first
game
His initial contract runs for the first phase of qualification
which ends in March and should he lead the Saudis to the next
round, Van Marwijk will renegotiate the deal.
Saudi Arabia competed at four successive World Cup finals from
1994. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by John O'Brien)
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