Henk ten Cate leaves role as Al Jazira manager after two and a half seasons in charge

Dutchman led the Abu Dhabi club to the Arabian Gulf League title in his first full season but has opted not to renew his contract

Henk Ten Cate's last match as Al Jazira manager was a last-minute defeat in the last-16 of the Asian Champions League. Abedin Taherkenareh / EPA

Henk ten Cate’s tenure at Al Jazira is over after his players said goodbye to their manager on Tuesday.

The Dutchman, appointed in December 2015, leaves the capital side following Monday’s Asian Champions League exit at the last-16 stage. Jazira were eliminated by Iran’s Persepolis on away goals. Ten Cate, 63, has decided not to renew his contract.

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Nevertheless, the former Ajax manager will be remembered as one of Jazira’s finest coaches. During his two and a half seasons in charge, Ten Cate steered the club from the threat of relegation to the Arabian Gulf League title – only the second in their history – and to a President’s Cup success.

At the Fifa Club World Cup in December, staged in the UAE, Jazira almost shocked Real Madrid in the semi-final, only for the European champions to come back from a goal down to win 2-1. They eventually retained their crown.

This season has not been the best for Jazira, who were beset by a number of off-field issues and thus finished their title defence seventh in the table.