DOHA (Qatar): The visiting Oman football team here mourned the passing away of their former coach Pim Verbeek on Thursday. He was 63.
It was under the Dutchman that the Gulf nation reached the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup early this year in Abu Dhabi. He also led them to 2017 Arab Gulf Cup victory in Kuwait.
But Verbeek would be known as the coach who guided Australia to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
He is best remembered in Australia for being the first manager to lead the Socceroos through a World Cup qualifying campaign in the Asian Football Confederation.
After a series of appointments through the Dutch Eredivisie and J-League, he managed South Korea to third place in the 2007 Asian Cup, after previously serving as an assistant on that national team under Guus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, respectively.
They lost their opening game 4-0 to Germany but went on to draw 1-1 with Ghana and beat Serbia 2-1, missing out on the knockout phase on goal difference.
At the end of the Asian Cup he announced his retirement, saying it would be his last job in football.
