Diego Maradona's No2 Luis Islas on Fujairah promotion dream and his own UAE coaching ambitions

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  • Luis Islas (c) behind Diego Maradona as he drills the Fujairah players (Twitter/@Fuj_FC)

    Fujairah’s quest to earn a return to the Arabian Gulf League has more than one World Cup winner behind it.

    Standing beside inimitable Argentina icon Diego Maradona is assistant Luis Islas. The 52-year-old had no hesitation to follow El Pibe de Oro – The Golden Boy – when he shocked the sport last May by ending a five-year spell away from the dugout in the UAE’s First Division League.

    Fast forward 10 months and the undefeated Wolves are locked on 40 points in a head-to-head battle with Ittihad Kalba for the second automatic promotion spot. It is a calling Islas takes just as seriously as their conquest of World Cup 1986 together, or when the 30-times-capped goalkeeper started all four games at the 1994 edition.

    But his ambitions don’t start and end with Maradona.

    This is the first time the duo have come together in their post-playing careers. The No2 has been a No1 since 2006 at clubs such as Bolivia’s Aurora (twice), plus Almagro, Central Norte, Racing de Cordoba, Atletico Colegiales and Deportivo Espanol in his homeland.

    There is gratitude for what Fujairah have offered both Islas and his family. Although, a desire to be entrenador – head coach – burns bright in this new country embraced by them all.

    “Working with Diego is a pleasure,” he tells Sport360°. “But we know this is football and there is only a few weeks left until the contract is over.

    “This time, I have the capacity and ability to work alone. I feel confident I’d do a great job. In the UAE, football is about looking for results – every week you have to win. I like that challenge.

    “I am happy in Fujairah and I thank them for the opportunity. My family is also happy, too. If it is not at Fujairah, I am interested in all the other teams.”

    The bond between the pair was forged on the baking training pitches of Mexico. More than 30 years ago, a promising shot stopper only just out of his teens got taken under the wing of the globe’s greatest footballer.

    “As a player at World Cup 1986, when we won it, Diego used to finish the training and every day we would stay together and practice free-kicks,” Islas reveals.

    “Diego is five-years older than me. I was only 20 and Diego was 25. As a player, I conceded very few free-kicks. This is because as a player, I trained with Diego.

    “I have known him for more than 30 years. I played two World Cups with Diego and we are always in touch. I was coaching in Argentina and my contract was over. When I received the phone call, I had no doubts and said ‘yes’.

    “We have many games together, been at World Cups but now we give everything to get the objective at Fujairah – to gain promotion to the Arabian Gulf League.”

    Fujairah are locked in a battle with Ittihad Kalba to finish second.

    Fujairah are locked in a battle with Ittihad Kalba to finish second.

    It is important to detach Islas from his lionised colleague.

    Further sources of inspiration as a head coach range from one of Mexico’s greatest trophy hoarders to a pair of World Cup winners, plus his privileged viewpoint.

    Islas says: “When I was a football player, I was very lucky to work with great coaches who also went to the national team. Enrique Meza coached Mexico and Toluca. I was coached by Cesar Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo, champions of the World Cup.

    “I also played for 27 years. Every game of my life as a goalkeeper I always had the best view.”

    In the UAE’s second tier, Bani Yas are already guaranteed an instant comeback to the AGL.

    The remaining sides are likely scrapping for one automatic berth and two play-off spots, ahead of official confirmation of the competition’s return to 14 sides for 2018/19.

    The small matter looms of Thursday’s tie with AGL champions-elect Al Ain in the President’s Cup quarter-finals.

    Islas has embraced the high-profile contest at Shabab Al Ahli Dubai’s stadium Al Aweer. But just like his own personal coaching ambitions, focus is not straying from the main mission – getting Fujairah back to the big time for the first time since 2015/16.

    He says: “The responsibility of the game against Al Ain is big. The team will give 100 per cent. We go to win and we want to make the next step. But we have two more very important games in the league, as well.”

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