The Saudi Arabian Football League on Monday employed the previous Manchester City chief govt to capitalize on the industrial alternative created by Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival within the nation.
The Saudi League stated Gary Cook, a longtime Nike govt earlier than becoming a member of Man City in 2008, will take over as chairman and CEO.
“Following the arrival of global superstar Ronaldo, the eyes of the world are on Saudi football,” league president Abdulaziz Alafalek stated in an announcement. ,
Ronaldo signed a cope with Al Nassr till June 2025, making him the very best paid participant in soccer historical past.
The 37-year-old Portugal ahead, whose contract with Manchester United was terminated throughout the World Cup, made his league debut on Sunday in a 1-0 win over Atifac.
“I am warmly welcomed in Riyadh and look forward to immediately starting work on realizing our ambition to make Saudi football a powerhouse of global sport,” Cook stated in a league assertion.
Cook joined Man City months earlier than the brand new house owners from Abu Dhabi purchased the membership. He stayed three years and helped lay the muse for the membership’s first English league title in 44 years. He left firstly of the 2011–12 season amid controversy over an e mail despatched to a participant’s mom.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
