Ahead of the start to the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League season, The National will preview the fortunes for each of the UAE's 14 top-flight clubs. Here, Amith Passela examines Al Wahda.
Outlook
After making steady progress from the 2013/2014 season, Al Wahda’s campaign was derailed towards the latter part of the last term.
Jose Peseiro, the Portuguese who replaced the Czech Karol Jarolim after 10 games and with the team lagging in 10th place in the league table, took them to second in 2014, behind the champions Al Ahli, in his first year.
Last season, Wahda suffered two successive defeats that ended a 20-match run in the league without defeat yet were still well-placed, in third, only four points behind the leaders, Al Jazira, when the club decided to part ways with Peseiro.
Sami Al Jaber, the former Saudi Arabia international, was appointed for the remainder of the season and Wahda finished fourth.
Wahda wasted little time in appointing Javier Aguirre, the former Mexico and Japan coach, this summer and they certainly are under an experienced hand with a decent squad to challenge for the league title.
They have also made two high profile signings – Jorge Valdivia and Denilson – both of whom are expected to make a large impact in their bid to win a fifth league title.
Foreign quartet
Denilson: The Brazilian was the club’s second signing. He brings experience from the Premier League club Arsenal, where he spent seven years before returning to his native Sao Paulo in 2011.
Hussain Fadhel: The centre-back from Kuwait has been effective enough that the club extended his contract for a third term.
Sebastian Tagliabue: The Argentinian led the league with 28 goals in 2013/14 and scored another 15 last season, the second of his five-season deal with the Abu Dhabi club. He is expected to find the net regularly with a recast midfield behind him.
Jorge Valdivia: The 31-year-old playmaker returns to the UAE as Wahda’s marquee signing after playing a key role for Chile as they won a first Copa America title during the summer. He was widely considered the league’s best player in his first go-round in the Emirates, two seasons with Al Ain, 2008-10, but his late arrival, scheduled for Friday, means he is unlikely to be in top form for several weeks.
Key Emirati players
Ismail Matar, the captain and forward, remains the most influential Emirati player despite a recent slump in form. Mohammed Al Shehhi, who is now confined to a midfielder’s role, and centre-back Hamdan Al Kamali are set to play vital roles in their respective lines.
Manager
Javier Aguirre, 56, arrives with an impressive CV. The Mexican looks like the man who can turn this side into a successful unit with his experience of leading Mexico in two World Cup campaigns and Japan in the Asian Cup, besides spells at four Spanish clubs: Atletico Madrid, Espanyol, Zaragoza and Osasuna.
The National verdict
Wahda have shown progress in the past two seasons and should be one of the main challengers for the title. The 2010 league winners were fourth last season and prior to that were runners-up, which was a significant improvement following disappointing seasons where they finished fourth, sixth, and seventh.
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