‘UAE deserves it’: Cosmin Olaroiu eyes World Cup qualification next after achieving dream of continental glory

Country’s most decorated coach signs off from club duty with AFC Champions League Two title against Lion City Sailors in Singapore

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  Sharjah players celebrate after their AFC Champions League Two final victory over Lion City Sailors at Bishan Stadium in Singapore on May 18, 2025. All photos: AFC

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  Sharjah players celebrate after Marcus Meloni's winner

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  Luanzinho on the attack for Sharjah

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  Action from the final between Lion City Sailors and Sharjah

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  Marcus Meloni, second left, celebrates after his stoppage time winner for Sharjah

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  Action from the final between Lion City Sailors and Sharjah

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  Marcos Meloni celebrates after scoring the winner

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  Sharjah defender Cho Yu-min controls the ball

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  Action from the final between Lion city Sailors and Sharjah

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  Sharjah winger Caio Lucas in action during the final

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  Sharjah fans at the Bishan Stadium

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  Toni Datkovic celebrates for Lion City Sailors

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  Luanzinho on the attack for Sharjah

Before being ambushed and soaked by his triumphant Sharjah players ahead of his valedictory press conference late on Sunday night, Cosmin Olaroiu briefly let the veil slip.

The hard man former centre-back, relentlessly driven to trophy after trophy, can clearly do gentle, too. Is there no end to his talents?

Caio Lucas was in for media duties with his boss. He had a Brazil flag tied around his shoulders, the AFC Champions League Two most valuable player trophy in hand, and his two young sons in tow.

Olaroiu saw them, and the tough guy veneer melted. The younger was upset after taking a tumble. “What’s wrong – you fell over?” Olaroiu asked, tenderly. “That is what happens in football.”

As the 55-year-old coach took his seat at the top table, he lifted both children onto his lap, and kissed them each on their cheeks.

And then, straight back down to the business of assessing what went so right for Sharjah, after they signed off a season of near misses with the trophy that meant the most to them.

Before Sunday night, only one UAE club – Ain, with two Champions League titles – had ever won a major Asian trophy. Now it is two, after Sharjah took the AFC Champions League Two crown with a 2-1 win over Lion City Sailors in Singapore.

Olaroiu said it was a success all the country could share in. “When we played in the semi-final against Al Taawoun, supporters from other teams came to support us,” Olaroiu said.

“This is for everyone, not just Sharjah but for the entire Emirates. First, I have to say thank you to all of them, and then to my players, who did a fantastic job.

“They ended with a trophy and I think they deserved it. I think this is the beginning of a new era in Sharjah. From here, they have to start to build a strong team with a strong mentality.

“I spent three-and-a-half years with them. We played eight finals and won five trophies. Now, in the moment I have to leave, but for them it is the beginning.

“I hope they will not stop here. I hope they will continue, and become bigger and bigger and bigger.”

If Sharjah do go onto build a dynasty, it will be without Olaroiu. The Romanian will sign off from duty next week before taking up the reins of the UAE national team. He will be missed keenly.

“He gave me freedom,” Lucas, who will likely play a central role in Olaroiu’s UAE side, too.

“He showed me the best place to be. I learned so much with him, and it will be very hard for us without him.

“But, like he said, it starts from now. We are going to try to do our best in every game. I just want to say thanks to him for everything that he did for this club.

“I am sure, without him, Sharjah would not be here. Thank you so much.”

Olaroiu departs the club game having won it all. After 14 major honours across his time with Al Ain, Shabab Al Ahli and now Sharjah, the one conspicuous omission was a continental title.

That arrived at the last available opportunity, delivered via a Marcus Meloni goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time at the end of the final.

“My dream was to win a continental trophy,” Olaroiu said.

“I got near with Al Ahli, I was near with Steaua Bucharest. I had the biggest disappointments when we lost those games, and suffered a lot.

“I still remember those games, and when we scored [against Lion City Sailors], again those things came into my mind.

“Finally, I have done it. This is one of my dreams, and of course I have the dream to participate in the World Cup. I will do my best to do that, and I think this fantastic nation deserves it.

“The way this country has developed, the way they have grown up in sport, they deserve to participate in the World Cup. I hope we can do it.”

Next up, the UAE job. It is not exactly an easy one. The UAE have a momentous game against Uzbekistan in Abu Dhabi at the start of June.

Win that, and they would be in with a chance of direct qualification to the World Cup when they travel to Kyrgyzstan a few days later.

The coach knows expectations are high, and the challenge great. But Olaroiu has broad enough shoulders to carry the burden.

“I have a very difficult mission,” he said. "I know the big responsibility that I have.

“I have always faced these challenges in my life. It is part of my life. I am used to having these kinds of games, not sleeping nice, but preparing and analysing.

“I have to pay back the hospitality this country has given me and my family. I have learned a lot of things in this country, and have made myself a better person with a better vision of life.

“I have to pay back, which is why I accepted this mission. I will give my best for it.”