EXCLUSIVE: Dunga interested in UAE job

03:22 04/12/2013
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  • World Cup winner and former Brazil coach Dunga last night declared his interest in the vacant UAE job, Sport360° can exclusively reveal.

    Dunga is keen on replacing Srecko Katanec, who was sacked on Tuesday night following the UAE’s 3-1 World Cup qualifying defeat to minnows Lebanon.

    Dunga has targeted a return to international football after leading Brazil to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa and his name had been put forward to the UAE Football Association, who are expected to shortlist possible successors to Katanec today.

    Former defensive midfielder Dunga, who won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil, was said to have reached an agreement with Qatari side Al Rayyan, however, his agent Adam Bouskouchi insists the 47-year-old had never received any “concrete interest” from them.

    “There was talk of his going to a club in Qatar and but there was never any concrete interest from Al Rayyan and there was never any further conversation so it is strange for us to see it being said that they were close to an agreement,” Bouskouchi told Sport360°

    “I am his Gulf agent and I am working with him on this and he asked me to find interest for him. He wants to stay in international football and has travelled across the Gulf and to Oman and Qatar as coach of the Brazilian national team.

    “Dunga has been surprised at how good the level of football is in this part of the world and he had it in his mind to state he would be interested in coaching here. It’s a different experience and challenge for him and he is a man with a lot of experience. He can bring that experience and add a lot to the national team here.

    “There is still chance for the UAE to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and he [Dunga] wants to test himself. He wants to try it out as there’s a lot to do for them [UAE] to do to get to the World Cup and he believes his experience can be put to good use here.”

    Bouskouchi said Dunga understands the footballing culture of the region, and that having coached at the highest level, leading Brazil to success in the 2007 Copa America and 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, he has shown that he gas the credentials to lead the Whites.

    “He knows the situation can be volatile here, but it is that way anywhere when you’re working at the highest level. It’s the same with the greatest teams in the world because the results matter.

    “Dunga has the experience of coaching the biggest team in the world Brazil because of what they have achieved over the years, but he is used to dealing with that kind of pressure because of his experience as a player and manager.

    “We’ve briefly spoken to them [UAE FA] and his name has just been mentioned to them. There was a meeting for candidates [on Thursday] and we are looking further and hoping he will be on their shortlist given that he is such a high-profile manager who has managed in World Cups.”

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