Ex-MLS Manager Reveals Shocking Kidnapping Ordeal in Saudi Arabia Job Scam Gone Wrong
Respected former MLS coach Adrian Heath has revealed he was abducted and threatened in a fraudulent scheme involving a fictitious position in Saudi Arabia.
The 65-year-old journeyed to Morocco for what he thought was an interview for a role in the Saudi Pro League in November 2024, but had fallen victim to an abduction and extortion scheme that took him to the periphery of Tangier.
Speaking with The Athletic, Heath stated he saw no warning signs until he reached Morocco, when it rapidly became apparent that he was in peril as two individuals drove him to a small settlement outside the city and escorted him into a room where three other men were waiting.
"You clearly understand that this isn't what you expected it to be," Heath recalled of his captors' words to him as they demanded a six-figure payment for his safe return. "This is how it will proceed: You're going to transfer us money ... And if you refuse, you won't see your wife again. You won't see your two children and your grandchildren."
No Red Flags
No Warning Signs
No warning signs had emerged at home in Minneapolis until Heath's spouse, Jane, did not receive the customary FaceTime call the pair shared when the coach would arrive on his latest soccer journey, wherever it might be around the globe. Instead, distant responses to Jane's messages raised alarm before the abductors contacted Jane through Heath's phone to outline the procedure.
Heath reports a blade was held against his neck and that he initially informed his captors that his wife could not transfer the funds as it was after business hours in the United States, before Jane quickly suggested to the abductors that all accounts required Heath's authorization to move large amounts.
The former Minnesota United coach was determined not to pay, understanding that payment would only escalate the demands. "Pay attention to what I'm telling you. I need you to send some money," he told Jane over the phone.
"Adrian, we switched bank accounts less than 12 months ago. You're the primary name on it. I cannot transfer any funds without you present," she responded, before the captors lowered their demand to a smaller six-figure amount.
MLS on Apple TV Talent Helps Heath Escape
MLS on Apple TV Personality Assists Heath's Escape
Once Jane grasped the circumstances, she contacted their son, Harrison Heath, a former MLS midfielder who played with Orlando City, a team Adrian had managed during its inaugural seasons.
Heath's wife and MLS on Apple TV presenter and commentator, Kaylyn Kyle, recommended checking the Find My Friends application on the father's device, which the kidnappers had neglected to disable. She captured a screenshot and confronted the agent who had arranged the interview, then contacted a family friend who happened to be an FBI worker in New York City.
Shortly thereafter, officials began tracking Heath's location, while he tried to negotiate his way out of confinement, telling his captors: "Look, I don't know how this will conclude, but ultimately, you're not receiving any money ... You can see that the only opportunity you have of getting any money is me returning home and wiring it to you. From there, you'll have to trust me, but that's our situation."
Shortly after, one of the abductors came into the room and told Heath to gather his things, and they would take him back to the airport, where he quickly bought a flight to Europe, landing in Madrid soon after and making his way home to the United States before sharing his story.
Heath, now 65, does not have any current coaching position arranged for the 2026 North American season and has not managed a team since leaving Minnesota United in 2023.