Brendan Rodgers could lead Saudi Arabia at the World Cup with French boss Herve Renard on the brink of quitting for the second time after disastrous warm-up defeats.
And record Saudi cap holder Mohamed Al-Deayea has demanded they appoint the former Celtic boss immediately to avoid humiliation this summer.
Rodgers has enjoyed an outstanding time in charge at Al-Qadsiah and has guided them to an unlikely title challenge after 13 wins and four draws in his 17 matches in the Saudi Pro League.
Renard has been heavily criticised after Saudi Arabia were walloped 4-0 at home by Egypt before following that up with a defeat in Serbia.
He was hardly a popular figure anyway after quitting the Saudi team three years to manage the French women's team before returning a year later.
Ex-Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Zambia manager Renard has been linked with taking over at Ghana, who sacked Otto Addo just 72 days before the World Cup.
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And legendary Saudi keeper Al-Deayea, who played in four World Cups and won a staggering 178 caps, reckons Rodgers is the only man for the job. He said, "How much longer can anyone defend Renard?
"He has not offered anything noteworthy. He left us for his women's team, and somehow we took him back again.
"The defeats are on him and reflect the mistakes of the Saudi Football Federation. I don't understand why he is still our manager. We need a change in leadership and management ahead of the World Cup.
"The Federation should go to Brendan Rodgers immediately and immediately allow him to take over all the preparations for the World Cup - he is the coach we need."
Saudi Arabia face Uruguay, Spain, and Cape Verde at the tournament this summer and are aiming to repeat their success from the last time the World Cup was held in the USA in 1994, where they got past the group stages for the one and only time.
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