Al Ahli are considering a contingency plan which involves replacing banned coach Cosmin Olaroiu with youth development head Carlos Carvalhal.
The Portuguese coach is believed to be a favourite of club president Abdulla Al Naboodah who is considering promoting the former Besiktas boss to the top job following Olaroiu’s stunning six-month ban.
It is so far unclear exacty what will happen to Olaroiu, whether his ban will be overturned or if the club will stick with him throughout the entire duration of his ban.
The hot seat at the Rashid Stadium has been one of the most talked about aspects of the league season so far following Olaroiu’s shock move in the summer, replacing Quique Sanchez Flores who sensationally resigned after winning the President’s Cup.
The Romanian has been banned until the end of the season by the UAE FA for not respecting his contract with Al Ain and with the matter still up in the air with an appeal likely, Carvalhal has been sounded out as a replacement, a source told Sport360°.
The Portuguese, who is currently in charge of the club’s youth development, insisted that his priority is to be a servant to the club in whatever capacity he is asked to.
“I have no comments on the job, I just hope everything will be good but I am committed to my own project,” Carvalhal said. “I think about serving Al Ahli and when I came, I came to serve, that is the point. I am doing my best for the club, that is my present.
“I am receiving offers from Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Cyprus and I am always receiving offers from Turkey, because I am popular there. But I tell them I am very happy at Al Ahli and that I have a very good connection with the club and the players.”
Carvalhal stressed that he felt the stability of the club came above his personal ambitions. The former Sporting Lisbon coach replaced German Bernhard Schomm in the summer, heading up the club’s youth development programmes.
He said: “At this moment, things are very good. We started from zero and now we have a uniform system across the teams and we have all the information on all the players.
“We have been looking to give international experience to all of our players. In December, we gave the U17s a tournament in Brazil and we sent four players to Benfica for a programme through my old contacts and they played well. One player scored five goals and now Benfica like him a lot.”
AL AHLI BOSSES
Henk Ten Cate (February – March 2010)
The Dutchman, better known as an assistant manager, lasted only a month before quitting after a heavy defeat.
David O’Leary (July 2010 – April 2011)
Struggled to get some form going and was sacked after losing to Al Jazira.
Ivan Hasek (June – Nov 2011)
The former Czech Republic boss lasted just nine months.
Quique Sanchez Flores (November 2011 – June 2013)
Took the club back to the top, making them title contenders and winning the 2012 Etisalat Cup and the 2013 President’s Cup before resigning.
Cosmin Olaroiu (July 2013 – present)
Stunned Emirati football by ditching two-time league champions Al Ain for their bitter rivals. The FA decided he had breached his contract with Al Ain and banned Olaroiu for six months.
