Team-by-team guide, star players and predictions for AGL

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  • With the new AGL season upon us we have the lowdown on each and every team aiming to compete for the title.

    From the key ins and outs over the course of the summer to our predictions for this year’s competition, we have you covered.

    Who do you think will be crowned AGL champions?

    Have your say by commenting below, using #360fans on Twitter or getting in touch via Facebook.

    AL AHLI

    NICKNAME: Red Knights

    COACH: Cosmin Olaroiu

    STAR PLAYER: Everton Ribeiro

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Walid Amber

    2015/16 FINISH: Champions

    KEY INS: Mohammed Jaber (Bani Yas), Asamoah Gyan (Shanghai SIPG – loan)

    KEY OUTS: Humaid Abbas (free agent – Al Wasl), Ahmed Dida (Bani Yas), Moussa Sow (Fenerbahce – loan)

    PREDICTION: If the chemistry is right between experienced forwards Lima and Gyan, the AGL’s strongest squad should be unstoppable. Remain the team to beat under unceasing Olaroiu.

    AL AIN

    NICKNAME: The Boss

    COACH: Zlatko Dalic

    STAR PLAYER: Omar Abdulrahman

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Saeed Al Menhali

    2015/16 FINISH: Runners-up

    KEY INS: Amer Abdulrahman (Bani Yas), Caio (Kashima Antlers)

    KEY OUTS: Mohammed Fawzi (Al Jazira), Helal Saeed (released), Fellipe Bastos (Bani Yas)

    PREDICTION: So many question marks remain about the Boss, for whom their foreign contingent are suspect. Will need to click immediately to stand any chance of keeping pace with rivals Ahli.

    BANI YAS

    Nickname: Sky Blues

    COACH: Pablo Repetto

    STAR PLAYER: Joaquin Larrivey

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Suhail Al Noubi

    2015/16 FINISH: Ninth

    KEY INS: Amer Omar (Al Wahda), Faisel Ahmed (Dibba Al Fujairah), Ahmed Dida (Al Ahli), Ali Al Ameri (Al Nasr)

    KEY OUTS: Mohammed Jaber (Al Ahli), Amer Abdulrahman (Al Ain), Fawaz Awana (Al Nasr)

    PREDICTION: Highly-rated boss Repetto will need to repeat the magic from his time in South America to see underperforming club escape mid-table.

    AL DHAFRA

    NICKNAME: Western Knights

    COACH: Mohamed Kwid

    STAR PLAYER: Omar Khrbin

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Abdulla Al Naqbi

    2015/16 FINISH: Eighth

    KEY INS: Mohammed Al Moeini, Sanad Ali (both Dibba Al Fujairah)

    KEY OUTS: Omair Al Hosani (Dibba Al Fujairah), Salem Saeed (Emirates Club), Saif Mohammed (Al Shaab)

    PREDICTION: Continuity has been key for Dhafra, who were the AGL’s success story of 2015/16. Khrbin and Co. can both cement their top-flight status and push for glory in the cup competitions.

    DIBBA AL FUJAIRAH

    NICKNAME: The Fishermen

    COACH: Paulo Sergio

    STAR PLAYER: Danilo de Oliveira

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Ahmed ibrahim

    2015/16 FINISH: 10th

    KEY INS: Nicandro Breeveld (Steaua Bucharest), Danilo de Oliveira (Chiangrai United), Ibrahim Qanber (Al Shaab)

    KEY OUTS: Faisel Ahmed (Bani Yas), Tariq Ahmed, Nasser Abdulhadi (both Al Wahda)

    PREDICTION: Troubles lies ahead for the club from the east coast. Have lost the coach who kept them up and many star players. Hold a big risk of relegation.

    EMIRATES CLUB

    NICKNAME: The Falcons

    COACH: Theo Bucker

    STAR PLAYER: Sebastian Saez

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Mohammed Saeed
    2015/16 FINISH: 12th

    KEY INS: Sebastian Saez (Al Wakrah), Augusto Cesar (Internacional), Hocine Ragued (Esperance de Tunis)

    KEY OUTS: Mohammad Malalla (Hatta), Brett Holman (released – Brisbane Roar), Alassane Diallo (Al Shaab)

    PREDICTION: Bucker will need to repeat his miraculous work from Dibba for his new side to avoid the drop. Saez must also be a success in front of goal.

    HATTA

    NICKNAME: Tornado

    COACH: Walid Obaid

    STAR PLAYER: Issiaka Ouedraogo

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Ali Al Khaja

    2015/16 FINISH: Champions, First Division League

    KEY INS: Mohammad Malalla (Emirates Club), Adrian Ropotan (Pandurii Targu Jiu), Issiaka Ouedraogo (Wolfsberger)

    KEY OUTS: Jair Da Silva, Rodrigo Silva (both released), Tassio Santos (Ajman)

    PREDICTION: The Tornado have given themselves hope of staying up with 14 new signings, full of AGL experience. Will be tight, but can do it.

    ITTIHAD KALBA

    NICKNAME: The Tigers

    COACH: Fabio Viviani

    STAR PLAYER: Mihai Costea

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Shahin Surour

    2015/16 FINISH: Runners-up, First Division League

    KEY INS: Shaheen Surour (Al Jazira – loan), Bakari Kone (Wydad Casablanca), Salam Shaker (Al Fateh)

    KEY OUTS: Papa Waigo, Kamel Chafni, Carmelo Gonzalez (all released)

    PREDICTION: Kalba have bounced between the two divisions since 2009/10 and the signs aren’t good that this manic run is about to end.

    AL JAZIRA

    NICKNAME: Pride of Abu Dhabi

    COACH: Henk ten Cate

    STAR PLAYER: Ali Mabkhout

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Khalfan Mubarak

    2015/16 FINISH: Seventh

    KEY INS: Mbark Boussoufa (free agent – Lokomotiv Moscow), Mohammed Fawzi (Al Ain), Salem Abdulla (Al Wasl)

    KEY OUTS: Khalid Sabeal (Al Wasl), Kenwyne Jones (loan expired – Atlanta United)

    PREDICTION: Ten Cate secured the President’s Cup last term, but Fawzi’s arrival alone will not fix a problem defence which will impinge any title bid.

    AL NASR

    NICKNAME: Blue Wave

    COACH: Ivan Jovanovic

    STAR PLAYER: Jires Kembo Ekoko

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Jassem Yaqoub

    2015/16 FINISH: Fourth

    KEY INS: Fawaz Awana (Bani Yas), Abdelaziz Barrada (Marseille), Wanderley (Sharjah)

    KEY OUTS: Luis Jimenez (Al Arabi), Jamal Ibrahim (Sharjah), Ali Al Ameri (Bani Yas)

    PREDICTION: Looked poised to strongly challenge for the title, prior to the Wanderley eligibility farrago. Must retain focus to stay in the mix for silverware.

    AL WASL

    NICKNAME: The Cheetahs

    COACH: Rodolfo Arruabarrena

    STAR PLAYER: Fabio De Lima

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Ali Saleh

    2015/16 FINISH: Sixth

    KEY INS: Ronaldo Mendes (Comercial Vicosa), Humaid Abbas (free agent – Al Ahli), Helder Barbosa (AEK Athens)

    KEY OUTS: Hugo Viana (released), Salem Abdulla (Al Jazira), Edgar Bruno (Adanaspor)

    PREDICTION: Early signs have been promising under the new boss and with exceptional De Lima in side, Asian qualification is eminently possible

    AL WAHDA

    NICKNAME: The Clarets

    COACH: Javier Aguirre

    STAR PLAYER: Sebastian Tagliabue

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Mohamed Al Akbari

    2015/16 FINISH: Third

    KEY INS: Tariq Ahmed, Nasser Abdulhadi (both Dibba Al Fujairah), Balazs Dzsudzsak(Bursaspor)

    KEY OUTS: Denilson (Cruzeiro – loan), Amer Omar, Abdullah Al Noubi (both Bani Yas)

    PREDICTION: If anyone is to break the duopoly of Ahli and Al Ain, it is Aguirre’s men. Their attack is frightening and squad is now full of depth.

    SHARJAH

    NICKNAME: The King

    COACH: Giorgos Donis

    STAR PLAYER: Gelmin Rivas

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Abdulla Ghanim

    2015/16 FINISH: 11th

    KEY INS: Gelmin Rivas (Al Ittihad), Digao (Al Hilal), Adrian Mierzejewski (free agent – Al Nassr)

    KEY OUTS: Bader Abdulrahman (Hatta), Maicosuel (Atletico Mineiro – loan return), Wanderley (Al Nasr)

    PREDICTION: A huge improvement is unavoidable after the excellent work from the summer. Should go from regular relegation contenders to the top six.

    AL SHABAB

    NICKNAME: The Hawks

    COACH: Fred Rutten

    STAR PLAYER: Henrique Luvannor

    BRIGHTEST PROSPECT: Mohammad Juma

    2015/16 FINISH: Fifth

    KEY INS: Ruud Boymans (Utrecht), Tomas De Vincenti (APOEL), Mohammed Ibrahim (Dubai CSC)

    KEY OUTS: Carlos Villanueva (Al Ittihad), Juninho Potiguar (Sheriff Tiraspol – loan return)

    PREDICTION: Rutten’s track record means a return to the top three cannot be ruled out. Fitness of injury-prone striker Boymans will determine their success.

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