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Iraq's coach says he will quit after Asian Cup final

Brazil's Jorvan Vieira will quit as Iraqi national coach after their Asian Cup final with Saudi Arabia today and is in talks to take over from Dutchman Pim Verbeek at South Korea.

Vieira, 54, only signed a two-month contract with the Iraqi Football Federation and said yesterday he had accomplished what he had set out to achieve.

"Yes, I will quit after the match against Saudi Arabia," he said. "I've already taken that decision. It was an opportunity for me to be at the Asian Cup."

Asked where he would go next, he revealed that he is having talks with the South Korean Football Association.

"The [South] Korean federation contacted me," he said. "If we can work out terms there is the potential that I can become the Korean coach sometime in the future. After the tournament we will discuss details."

Current South Korean coach Verbeek said after his team's semi-final loss to Iraq in Kuala Lumpur that he had made a decision on his own future but he refused to reveal what it was.

Vieira, who has coached Arab clubs and international teams for more than 20 years, said he and Verbeek were friends and sat next to each other on the flight from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta.

"Verbeek and I were together on the same plane. He didn't tell me anything about resigning but I think he has a good team and I'd be happy to be in his position. [South] Korea has some very good players," the Brazilian said.

Vieira earlier told a press conference that he signed a contract with Iraq for two months only because "the Asian Cup is very important. I wanted to participate and I wanted to put it on my CV."

"When I signed my contract in Amman [in neighboring Jordan] I promised to bring more smiles to the Iraqi people's lips and more happiness to the people and I think I have accomplished that," he said.
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