Vieira set to replace Beranek

Just two games into the new Pro League season and the Al Wasl manager Miroslav Beranek has been replaced by Jorvan Vieira.

The Brazilian coach Jorvan Vieira, who led the Iraqi national football team to victory in the 2007 Asian Cup.

DUBAI // The former Iraq national team coach, Jorvan Vieira, is expected to take over at Al Wasl after the Dubai club sacked Miroslav Beranek after just two games of the UAE Pro League. The Czech Beranek left the club after a 1-0 win at Ajman and an embarrassing 4-2 defeat at home to Al Wahda on Thursday night.

According to club sources, the Brazilian, who took Iraq to a fairy-tale 2007 Asian Cup triumph, is in Dubai negotiating a contract with Wasl after ditching the Iraqi national team over non-payment of dues. Vieira had signed a one-year contract with Iraq earlier this month, but left after just four days of training without informing the Iraqi FA officials. Vieira, 55, was upset with the non-payment of half of the contracted amount of US$600,000 (Dh2.2m) he wanted up front. The Iraqi government had already paid him $100,000 and assured the Brazilian that the remaining amount would be paid shortly.

Vieira, however, packed his bag in a huff and left for Morocco, where he lives with his wife. From there, he flew to Dubai to negotiate with Wasl. Jaroslav Horak, the reserve team coach, will take charge of the Wasl side till the deal with Vieira - or any other coach if things do not work out with Vieira - is finalised. The new coach is expected to be in charge before the next game at Al Jazira on Oct 4.

Wasl, who have won seven league titles, are desperate to return to the top after finishing seventh last season, a position which forced their Brazilian coach Ze Mario, who had won the league and President's Cup double in the previous season, to leave for Qatar club Al Arabi. When Beranek took over his reign started with a patchy performance against Ajman and then came the disappointing defeat at home against Wahda. Wasl lost after taking an 18th- minute lead but conceding three soft goals in the second half. The players and fans were upset with the coach after the game, and one of the players remarked that Beranek should be "fined".

The club management held a meeting with Beranek, seeking an explanation for the poor performance. The officials were not happy with his explanation and dismissed him. [e-mail]