Incoming Al Wasl coach Jorginho is confident he can bring success to the Zabeel Stadium.
The 49-year-old World Cup winner was unveiled by the club on Sunday evening and will officially start work on June 20, having agreed a one-year deal last Wednesday.
Jorginho takes over permanent control of the struggling Arabian Gulf League side from Hector Cuper, who was relieved of his duties last month having overseen just four wins in 16 games in all competitions.
Wasl currently sit one place above the relegation zone in 12th, although they hold a seven-point advantage over second-bottom Dubai with just three games to go.
Salem Abdulrahman, who has been in temporary charge since Cuper’s departure, will continue in that role until the end of the season.
“I’ve been watching recent matches of Al Wasl and I think that the players should be performing a lot better,” Jorginho said. “I hope to have sufficient time to iron out these mistakes and I hope that, with the right chemistry between myself and the club’s management, we can get the club back on the right track.”
Indeed, the Brazilian – who played every game as his country won the 1994 World Cup – revealed a desire to emulate the success of compatriot Ze Mario, who guided Wasl to the league and President’s Cup double in 2007.
“I have had a lot of feedback about the football here, especially from Ze Mario, who gave me good information about the UAE and the club,” Jorginho added. “I’m very happy to join Al Wasl.
"First, I need a chance to arrange the team and then let’s see what will happen in the future. I thank the board for giving me this opportunity, and I will perform to prove their confidence in me was justified.”
Jorginho will become Wasl’s 13th coach since they last lifted the league title seven years ago when he officially assumes his role at the Zabeel Stadium this summer.
The former Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Flamengo defender has been out of work since leaving Sao Paulo club Ponte Preto, who he led to the final of the Copa Sudemericana but were also relegated from the Brazilian Serie A.
The 49-year-old, who has played for and coached Kashima Antlers, revealed he had turned down offers in Japan to make the move to Dubai.
Wasl had been keen to appoint a Brazilian, with Jorginho becoming the 11th coach from the South American country to take control of the club.
“We had a shortlist in which we had looked here and there for a manager,” Wasl team manager, Majed Abdullah said. “But we decided on Jorginho because we have had a good chemistry with Brazilian coaches in the past.
“We hope to continue that.”
Jorginho’s first assignment as coach will be a two-week training camp in Germany, starting on August 3.
