DUBAI // Al Wasl believe Gabriel Calderon’s experience in the Arabian Gulf made him the ideal candidate to replace Jorginho as coach.
The Argentine signed a one-year contract last week following the club’s decision to part company with Jorginho five rounds into the 2014/15 Arabian Gulf League season.
Under the Brazilian, who officially took charge in June, Wasl won once in six matches.
Calderon, 54, became the ninth manager employed at the Zabeel Stadium in the past two-and-a-half years. He made his first appearance in the Wasl dugout in Saturday’s creditable 2-2 draw at Al Wahda, the league leaders, and then his home debut in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Baniyas, his former club.
Calderon, who from November 2011 spent six largely successful months in Abu Dhabi, has previously managed Al Hilal and Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. He also coached a succession of national teams in the region: Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain.
Majed Obaidallah, the Wasl team manager, said Calderon was an obvious choice to succeed Jorginho.
“His experience is very good – with Baniyas, Al Hilal and the national teams within the Gulf – so he knows at least 80 per cent of what happens here,” Obaidallah said. “Plus, he has an excellent record.
“To take Jorginho out was a very tough decision. He was doing his best, but the results were just not good enough.
“In football, you must get the results and, although he gave everything, they were not satisfactory.
“With regards to Calderon, it was an easy decision to sign him. He is one of the best coaches in this area; everyone knows this.”
Meanwhile, Wasl continue to wait to discover if Hugo Viana will be available for selection before the transfer window reopens in January.
The midfielder, a deadline-day acquisition from Al Ahli, was signed hours after the close of the summer window on October 3, with the Football Association yet to decide whether he should be made eligible to play.
The situation perplexes Calderon, who is already working on a system in training that seeks to maximise Viana’s talent.
“Now I have three foreigners, but hopefully soon the federation will make their decision and we’ll be able to field four,” he said.
“All other teams play with four, but at Al Wasl we wait. I don’t know why, I don’t understand it.
“With Hugo’s quality, he is the most important player in the team. He controls everything, has short and long passes and has the experience.
“I play with some very young players, so Hugo can be there to balance the team. To win matches, you need this balance and good technique in the middle.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
