Abu Dhabi // Franky Vercauteren, the coach of Racing Genk, the Belgian league champions, was negotiating a deal with Al Jazira yesterday evening in anticipation of becoming the club’s new coach.
A source at the club confirmed that Vercauteren was in the capital, but added: “He has arrived to discuss the terms and conditions. So at this moment we can only say the club is in discussion with him but anything is possible within the next 24 hours.”
Jazira have been seeking a new coach since Alejandro Sabella, who signed a two-year deal in June, reneged on his contract two weeks ago when he was offered the opportunity to coach the Argentina national team.
The Football Association website had already reported Vercautern as the new coach of Jazira yesterday afternoon, and many reports on football websites and in the Belgian media suggested that the coach was moving to Jazira on a two-year contract.
The loss of Vercauteren would be a major blow to Genk as they defend their Belgian league title and prepare for a two-legged play-off against Israel’s Maccabi Haifa for a place in the Uefa Champions League group stages.
Vercauteren, 54, won the Belgian title and Super Cup with Genk last season. He also won the league championship twice previously with RSC Anderlecht.
Vercauteren’s first task would be to prepare the team for the club’s Ramadan Cup friendly tournament from August 20 to 26 with Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia, Al Rayyan of Qatar and Al Nahda of Oman.
Vercauteren appeared 63 times for Belgium from 1977 to 1988, playing left wing in two World Cups. He began his career with Anderlecht in 1975 and had spells with FC Nantes of France and the Belgian club Racing White Daring Molenbeek.
His coaching career began in 1993/94 with the youth teams of CS Braine and KV Mechelen. He moved to Anderlecht as an assistant in 1998 and was the head coach from 2005 to 2007.
He was also caretaker coach of the national team in 2009 but stepped down after Belgium’s defeat to Armenia.
According to Belgian media, no one at Racing Genk would confirm whether Vercauteren had left the club. He was on the sideline for the team’s game on Saturday night, a 0-0 draw with Lierse.
apassela@thenational.ae
Ibrahim's play list
Completed an electrical diploma at the Adnoc Technical Institute
Works as a public relations officer with Adnoc
Apart from the piano, he plays the accordion, oud and guitar
His favourite composer is Johann Sebastian Bach
Also enjoys listening to Mozart
Likes all genres of music including Arabic music and jazz
Enjoys rock groups Scorpions and Metallica
Other musicians he likes are Syrian-American pianist Malek Jandali and Lebanese oud player Rabih Abou Khalil
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
It
Director: Andres Muschietti
Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor
Three stars
Dunki
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If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
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If you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Chicago from Dh5,215 return including taxes.
The hotels
Recommended hotels include the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, located in an iconic skyscraper complete with a 1929 Olympic-size swimming pool from US$299 (Dh1,100) per night including taxes, and the Omni Chicago Hotel, an excellent value downtown address with elegant art deco furnishings and an excellent in-house restaurant. Rooms from US$239 (Dh877) per night including taxes.
Profile of Tamatem
Date started: March 2013
Founder: Hussam Hammo
Based: Amman, Jordan
Employees: 55
Funding: $6m
Funders: Wamda Capital, Modern Electronics (part of Al Falaisah Group) and North Base Media
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Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5