UAE 'suffering' since departure of Bert van Marwijk, say former national team officials

FA searching for third new manager since Dutchman's exit following the decision to part ways with Pinto last month

Bert van Marwijk was UAE national team manager for around nine months in 2019. EPA

The UAE have not recovered from the departure last year of Bert van Marwijk, according to members of the national team set-up from the Dutchman’s time in the role.

At present, the Football Association is assessing options for a new manager having parted company last month with Jorge Luis Pinto. Appointed in June, the Colombian was the UAE's second head coach since Van Marwijk was dismissed last December. Like predecessor Ivan Jovanovic, Pinto left without taking charge of a competitive match.

The FA meets this weekend to decide upon a successor, with former manager Mahdi Ali one of the names being strongly considered - even if initially through to the conclusion in June of the second round of 2022 World Cup qualification. Former Al Wasl head coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena, recently installed at Pyramids FC in Egypt, is also thought to be on the shortlist.

However, Dinamo Zagreb manager Zoran Mamic, formerly of Al Ain, is no longer an option, with Henk ten Cate, winner of the Arabian Gulf League and President’s Cup with Al Jazira, seemingly out of the running also.

Appointed in March last year, Van Marwijk was dismissed nine months later following the UAE’s group-stage exit from the Gulf Cup of Nations. The former Netherlands and Saudi Arabia manager, 68, had overseen four matches in World Cup qualification, winning two and drawing two.

Qualification was since postponed until next March because of the coronavirus pandemic, meaning the UAE remain fourth in Group G, although they have played a game less than their rivals.

Dr Hassan Suhail, the former national-team supervisor who also served previously as a member of the FA’s national-team committee, said the UAE were on the right path with Van Marwijk, and suggested the 2010 World Cup runner-up with the Netherlands should even be considered for a return.

Jorge Luis Pinto was UAE manager for just five months. Courtesy UAEFA

Van Marwijk masterminded Saudi Arabia’s qualification to the 2018 tournament in Russia – their first appearance at a global finals in 12 years.

"It would be a very appropriate option," Suhail told Al Ittihad. "Van Marwijk is a global coach, and he had tremendous successes - he just needs a full opportunity without haste.

“The team have been suffering for a long time, and before the arrival of Marwijk, the federation developed a comprehensive plan for the team's development. But the results affected its implementation and the benefits from it, and after the departure of the committee the plan was halted.

“The national team have changed more than four times in less than a year, in addition to changing three coaches recently. These are decisions that have contributed to the team’s suffering.”

Mahdi Ali could return for a second spell as UAE manager. Getty

Ismail Rashid, the former UAE international and team manager during Van Marwijk’s time in charge, echoed Suhail’s sentiments, saying: “In the event that Van Marwijk was included in the names [being considered] now and he came back, this would mean the start of the team's return to the right path.

"Because the coach’s sacking has already affected the team, especially since he and his technical team had been doing a lot of really distinguished work.”

Speaking to The National in June, Van Marwijk's assistant coach, Roel Coumans, said the Dutch manager was in fact open to reprising the role.

“I think even the head coach would be eager to finish his job," Coumans said. "He’s always asking if there’s some news with the UAE national team. He said in the beginning that he thought they would regret the decision to sack us, because he knew we were on the right way. He’s not happy that this was his last job.”