Khamis Esmail had two reasons to celebrate when it was announced club legend Abel Braga was returning as Al Jazira coach last month.
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The Brazilian is heralded by the trophy-starved Pride of Abu Dhabi faithful for a three-year spell which brought the hallowed 2010/11 President’s Cup and Arabian Gulf League double, as well as the preceding season’s Arabian Gulf Cup.
But for 25-year-old Esmail, the connection is also a personal one. Braga was the man who picked him out from Emirates Club in the 2011 transfer window, propelling the defensive midfielder on a path to full UAE honours, glory at the 2013 Gulf Cup and third-place in January’s Asian Cup.
Such achievements have been few and far between at club level since the 62-year-old boss departed for Fluminenese in a blaze of glory four years ago, and this is a situation Esmail expects to radically change next term.
“Braga used to work there [Jazira] for three years and I’m very excited for him to come back, because we won a lot of trophies,” he said.
“We’re excited because we’re looking forward to getting more trophies with him. This was four years ago, now I have to improve myself more to be in the team. He’s very strong as a manager and person, but everyone loves him.”
Last season was another potless one for the ambitious capital club, who have won only the 2012 President’s Cup since Braga’s exit.
Jazira have been ruthless in their search for success in his absence, Belgian Eric Gerets the sixth coach in four years to be dismissed to make way for the returning hero.
The Pride of Abu Dhabi finished second last term, but a fearsome attack featuring 25-goal leading scorer Mirko Vucinic and UAE hero Ali Mabkhout was undermined by an appalling defence which was the third-worst in the top flight.
Braga – a former Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain centre-back – was able to marry the two successfully during his time in the UAE and Esmail expects more of the same in 2015/16, especially with UAE centre-back Fares Juma signed from Al Ain.
It will be very interesting to see how Abel Braga ‘fixes’ the Al-Jazira squad, defensively especially.
— Ahdaaf (@ahdaafme) June 28, 2015
He said: “For sure, in the league second is like last place. If we don’t win the first, we don’t win anything – so I’m looking to be champions.
“Braga knows the problem. And he comes to fix this problem. The Jazira management has already brought in Juma and we hope he’ll help us to improve the team. We really missed someone like him a lot as a team, but we’re looking forward with the new manager.”
Esmail will have a star new recruit alongside him in the Jazira midfield next season, Brazil playmaker Thiago Neves bought from Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal on a three-year deal for €11 million (Dh45m).
“We wish that he’ll be the same as he was at Al Hilal,” he said. “I am looking forward to playing with him. But nothing is easy – all the teams work hard and so are we. So, it’s just about being prepared and ready for next season.”
Esmail was speaking at a preview of the adidas Football Bunker at Dubai Sports World, where from July 5 football fans can be among the first to play in adidas’ revolutionary new boots, X and ACE.
