But, much like the country as a whole, the landscape looked pretty different 30-plus years ago.
In the 1970s, the UAE team wasn’t even entering World Cups or Asian Championships, and hopes in the Gulf Cup were restricted to making it into the league’s top three. In 1977, though, in an attempt to try and compete with all-conquering Kuwait, the UAE FA appointed then England manager, Don Revie – a man who had transformed Leeds United from Second Division also-rans into one of the most feared teams in Europe.
Revie, eager to escape a hostile press back in London, arrived in the Emirates with his long-time ally, Les Cocker, whose fitness and coaching drills contributed to England’s World Cup success in 1966.
Les Cocker’s son Dave was living in Leeds with a young family of his own when his fitness expert father made the move to Dubai, but he was a frequent visitor to the Jumeirah villa his parents called home between 1977 and 1979. Dave has delved into his attic to send Sport360 a fantastic collection of pictures of his father’s time in Dubai in the 1970s, offering a fascinating glimpse of the footballing history of the Emirate.
“Dad only stayed two years, the duration of his contract, although Don stayed far longer and went on to manage Al-Nasr,” recalls Dave. “I think Dad was missing his golf – there was only one sand course in Dubai then! Mum didn’t want to go to the UAE at first, but she loved it out there and didn’t want to come home really… she really enjoyed those couple of years and Dubai.”
Sadly, Les died not long after his return to England, suffering a heart attack as he took training with Doncaster Rovers where former Leeds skipper Billy Bremner had become manager. It’s clear, though, that Dubai has retained a special appeal for the Cocker family.
“We’d go over for a whole month at a time, and work were good to allow me that,” Dave says. “Mum and Dad’s house was set back about 500 metres from the beach. I don’t know if it’s still there, but there was a large Chinese Pagoda [The Doleh Residence – Ed.] which we could see from our balcony! And I bet the old UAE FA HQ building in Deira is no longer there!”
Of particular interest to al-Nasr fans are the shots of Don Revie and Sheikh Mana at the construction of the club’s new stadium – still used to this day – and the programme from the match against European champions Liverpool in 1978 that officially opened it, which the hosts lost 5-0. And if only they made tracksuit tops like that today, eh?
If any of these photographs below spark any memories, please let us know!
Sheikh Mana with Dave’s wife Pauline at the laying of the Astroturf at the new Al-Nasr Stadium.
Left: Dave Cocker outside the old UAE FA headquarters in Deira, Dubai. Right: Don, Dave and son Lee (now 37!) in Don’s villa, Jumeirah.
A UAE national team tracksuit from 1978.
The programme for the official unveiling of the new Al-Nasr Stadium in 1978.
Left: Les Cocker’s Jumeirah villa. Right: The famous Pagoda-styledresidence of ZakariaDoleh, as seen from the the Cockers’ balcony.
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