UAE FA tight-lipped over Abel Braga and Marco Van Basten links

04:05 04/12/2013
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  • The UAE Football Association have refused to be drawn on reports that former Al Jazira boss Abel Braga and Dutch legend Marco Van Basten are among the candidates being considered for the national team job.

    Braga, who led Al Jazira to the Pro League league title for the first time in their history last season, and Van Basten, the former Holland and Ajax boss, have both been linked with the job as the UAE FA continue their search for a permanent successor to Srecko Katanec.

    Emirati coach Abdullah Misfir has been in charge on an interim basis since Katanec’s exit last September following back-to-back defeats in their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, but has failed to spark a revival.

    Having failed in their quest to reach the World Cup finals for the first time since 1990, the focus has turned to finding a suitable candidate for the job on a long-term basis.

    Yousef Al Serkal, the chairman of the Football Association interim committee, had confirmed over the weekend that Argentine legend Diego Maradona, currently charge of Pro League side Al Wasl, was one of the names on their shortlist.

    Braga, 59, has also been mentioned in connection with the role given his achievements with Jazira last season, guiding them to a league and cup double before returning to his native Brazil with Fluminense in the summer.

    The affable coach has many admirers at UAE FA given his penchant for attacking football and the stellar work he carried out during three years in charge at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

    Van Basten, meanwhile, is another who has been linked to the post. The 47-year-old has been out of work since leaving Dutch giants Ajax and the end of the 2008/09 season and is currently working as a television pundit in Holland.

    The legendary former striker is known though to be keen on a return to management and has been linked with both Chelsea and AC Milan in recent times.

    But as the rumour mill goes into overdrive Yusuf Abdullah, general secretary of the UAE FA, has remained tight-lipped over those who are in the running for the job. “We are aware of the rumours but cannot confirm any names at this time as the process is still ongoing,” he told Sport360°

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