Fujairah, scrambling to avoid AGL relegation, dismiss Ivan Hasek

John McAuley reports that with six fixtures remaining in the Arabian Gulf League season and relegation a distinct threat, Fujairah will see new guidance to avoid the drop.

Fujairah dismissed manager Ivan Hasek on Sunday. Pawan Singh / The National

Fujairah have dismissed coach Ivan Hasek six rounds out from the conclusion of the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League.

The east-coast club made the decision late Saturday, following the 3-1 defeat at Sharjah the previous day. The result stretched Fujairah’s run to five successive league losses and leaves the club next to last in the standings.

With bottom side Al Shaab almost guaranteed to be relegated, the race is on to avoid finishing 13th, with Fujairah two points from safety. Emirates currently occupy 12th, although Dibba, Al Dhafra and Sharjah are all within three points.

Hasek, who guided Al Ahli to the league championship in 2009, joined Fujairah in December 2014, replacing Abdulwahab Abdulqadir. The Czech steered the club away from the drop zone, taking them from 12th to eventually finish ninth.

However, this season has been much more difficult, as Fujairah were defeated 8-1 on the opening day by Ahli and then never really recovered. In all, they have five victories from 20 league matches.

Hasek, who as well as serving two spells at Ahli also previously coached Al Wasl, becomes the sixth managerial casualty this season after Paulo Bonamigo (Sharjah), Laurent Banide (Dhafra), Abel Braga (Al Jazira)​ and Tarek El Ashry and Walter Zenga (Shaab).

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