The Football Association could decide on a new manager of the UAE national team within the next week, with five possible candidates having been identified.
The governing body are seeking a successor to Alberto Zaccheroni following the conclusion to the Italian’s contract upon the team’s exit from the Asian Cup at the semi-final stage in late January. Zaccheroni, 65, had been in charge for 15 months.
Five potential replacements are being assessed, with the FA hoping to decide on the best man for the job later this week. From there, negotiations will take place so that the new manager can be in position before the end of the month.
The UAE are expected to play two friendlies later this month, against Saudi Arabia on March 21 and Syria five days later. Caretaker manager Saleem Abdelrahman, part of Zaccheroni’s staff for the Asian Cup, will remain in situ for those two matches irrespective if the deal for a permanent successor has been completed.
The FA have decided to focus on Europe-based coaches, and have set a number of criteria to be met. Those include, the FA told The National, managers with significant experience and a strong personality, who display an emphasis on forging a long-term plan for the future. A strong command of English is also preferred.
The main objective for the UAE is now to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, in what would represent only the country’s second appearance at a global finals and first since 1990. Qualification for the tournament, and the 2023 Asian Cup, begins in September.
For many, the UAE disappointed at this year’s Asian Cup despite reaching the semi-finals. Beset by injuries to key players, including star playmaker Omar Abdulrahman, the national team struggled in all three group matches – they did still progress as pool winners - and the last-16 victory against Kryrgzstan.
Their one truly positive performance and result arrived in the 1-0 defeat of holders Australia in the quarter-final, before the hosts exited the tournament on the back of a 4-0 loss to Qatar in the last four.
Appointed in October 2017, Zaccheroni managed the UAE for 24 matches, guiding his team to nine victories, seven draws and eight defeats.
Immediately following the match with Qatar, the 2011 Asian Cup winner with Japan said: “To reach the semi-final wasn’t my expectation because I wanted to win the Asian Cup. For me, it’s not a satisfactory result. I’m very proud to have worked with the UAE team. Our objective from the beginning was to win the Asian Cup but we fell short.”
What is Folia?
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal's new plant-based menu will launch at Four Seasons hotels in Dubai this November. A desire to cater to people looking for clean, healthy meals beyond green salad is what inspired Prince Khaled and American celebrity chef Matthew Kenney to create Folia. The word means "from the leaves" in Latin, and the exclusive menu offers fine plant-based cuisine across Four Seasons properties in Los Angeles, Bahrain and, soon, Dubai.
Kenney specialises in vegan cuisine and is the founder of Plant Food Wine and 20 other restaurants worldwide. "I’ve always appreciated Matthew’s work," says the Saudi royal. "He has a singular culinary talent and his approach to plant-based dining is prescient and unrivalled. I was a fan of his long before we established our professional relationship."
Folia first launched at The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in July 2018. It is available at the poolside Cabana Restaurant and for in-room dining across the property, as well as in its private event space. The food is vibrant and colourful, full of fresh dishes such as the hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers; green hearb tacos filled with roasted squash and king oyster barbacoa; and a savoury coconut cream pie with macadamia crust.
In March 2019, the Folia menu reached Gulf shores, as it was introduced at the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, where it is served at the Bay View Lounge. Next, on Tuesday, November 1 – also known as World Vegan Day – it will come to the UAE, to the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach and the Four Seasons DIFC, both properties Prince Khaled has spent "considerable time at and love".
There are also plans to take Folia to several more locations throughout the Middle East and Europe.
While health-conscious diners will be attracted to the concept, Prince Khaled is careful to stress Folia is "not meant for a specific subset of customers. It is meant for everyone who wants a culinary experience without the negative impact that eating out so often comes with."
LAST-16 FIXTURES
Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Squad
Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas)
Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed automatic
Power: 400hp
Torque: 560Nm
Price: Dh234,000 - Dh329,000
On sale: now
INDIA V SOUTH AFRICA
First Test: October 2-6, at Visakhapatnam
Second Test: October 10-14, at Maharashtra
Third Test: October 19-23, at Ranchi
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
