Luis Garcia has paid the price for Bani Yas’ chronic inconsistency, with the club bringing an end to his near two-year spell in charge.
Garcia, 43, had come under intense pressure after February 11’s 4-2 loss at champions Al Ain left the club a disappointing eighth in the Arabian Gulf League. The Sky Blues took advantage of the ongoing international break to announce that club legend Salem Al Orafi is to once again step in as interim boss.
The departed ex-Getafe and Levante supremo will see out the remaining four months left on the deal signed in July 2014 in a nominal advisory role.
“Salem Al Orafi managed the Bani Yas training session on Thursday after changing the position of Luis Garcia to a sport consultant for the club,” Bani Yas tweeted.
The new man has fulfilled the caretaker role twice before.
In November 2011, he stepped in after Brazilian Jorvan Vieira was dismissed. His second spell was covered in glory, leading his boyhood club to the 2013 GCC Club Cup with a 3-1 aggregate victory against Qatar’s Al Khor.
Al Orafi was also a playing member of team in 1992 which lifted the President’s Cup.
He takes over a talented squad which has won just three of its last 10 matches in all competitions.
If no permanent replacement is found, Al Orafi’s first engagement will be April 8’s AGL match against high-flying Al Wasl at Bani Yas Stadium.
