DUBAI // Dubai club have concluded their protracted search for a new manager by appointing Swiss coach Martin Rueda.
The Al Awer side have been seeking a successor to Rene Marsiglia since deciding last month not to renew the Frenchman's contract.
Despite a strong start to the 2012/13 campaign, Dubai soon began to struggle, registering three victories from their final 18 Pro League matches to eventually finish 11th.
The club's technical committee have now entrusted Rueda with improving their fortunes, convincing the Zurich-born manager to swap the Swiss top flight for the rebranded Arabian Gulf League.
Rueda spent last year in charge of Young Boys, the Swiss Super League club, who he led to seventh in the table. Previously, he coached a number of teams in his homeland, including three spells at FC Wohlen.
In 2010/11 he led Lausanne-Sport to the group stages of the Europa League.
Rueda is expected to arrive at Dubai Sports and Cultural Club Stadium on Monday, where he will discuss plans for pre-season and objectives for next season. Details of his contract have yet to be disclosed.
He finds at his disposal an already augmented squad, with the club having confirmed last week the signings of three overseas players.
Dubai signed Pasquale Foggia, the Italian winger from Lazio, Brazilian striker Andre Alves from Cypriot side Omonia, and Mali's Aboubacar Tambadou from AS Marsa. They are thought to be close to finalising a deal for an Asian player.
In the past few weeks, Dubai have also swollen their Emirati roster by taking midfielder Abdullah Malallah from Al Ain and defender Ali Msarri from Al Dhafra.
The club are expected to host a press conference at some point next week in which they will formally introduce Rueda and each of the new recruits.
