Henk ten Cate will always consider Al Jazira as his 'second home'

Matt Jones - Editor 18:40 18/05/2018
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  • Jazira coach Henk ten Cate is hoisted high by his players after winning the 2016/17 AGL title.

    Henk ten Cate says he will always consider Al Jazira and Abu Dhabi as his second home after he left his post at the Pride of Abu Dhabi following a hugely successful two-and-a-half-year period during which he totally awoke a sleeping UAE giant.

    Ten Cate left the capital city giants on Tuesday following their AFC Champions League exit to Iran’s Persepolis.

    The 63-year-old says he is now retired and will spend more time with his family.

    “I spent more than 40 years in the football world as player and manager, and for me family comes first now,” Ten Cate, the former Ajax coach and Barcelona and Chelsea assistant, told the Jazira website.

    “Managing clubs forced me to spend the majority of my life away from my family, and that’s why I decided to quit and give them more time.”

    The Dutchman’s tenure was only supposed to be a temporary six-month stint, after he agreed to take over from fallen club idol Abel Braga in December 2015, with the Brazilian’s second spell in charge an unmitigated disaster.

    Jazira were 13th in the Arabian Gulf League table when Ten Cate took over – agreeing to take charge after receiving a phonecall from close friend and former chairman of the board of directors at Jazira, Buti Al Qubaisi, on Boxing Day, 2015.

    Ten Cate revamped Jazira during a wonderful 30 months in charge.

    Ten Cate revamped Jazira during a wonderful 30 months in charge.

    There was not much festive cheer around Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium at the time, but Ten Cate delivered late presents when he steered the club to the safety of seventh place by season’s end, as well as masterminding a President’s Cup success – beating heated rivals Al Ain on penalties in the final in May, less than six months after taking charge.

    Better was to come in 2016/17 as Ten Cate led Jazira to a first AGL title in six years and just a second of the professional era. That saw them earn a place at the FIFA Club World Cup held in Abu Dhabi last December where the capital city giants took the lead against champions of Europe, Real Madrid, in the semi-finals before eventually losing 2-1.

    In his final act, Ten Cate progressed Jazira to the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League where they were denied a first-ever appearance in the quarter-finals after losing 2-1 in Iran to Persepolis on Monday – a last-minute winner for the hosts seeing them go through on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate draw.

    He revolutionised the club and reflects with happiness on a job well done in the UAE capital.

    “I am proud that I belong to Al Jazira, and I will always consider this club as a second home and family to me,” he added.

    “I didn’t say goodbye to my sons, the players, because I will see them again, when I return to visit the beautiful city in the future.”

    Al Jazira earned respect against Real Madrid in December's Club World Cup.

    Al Jazira earned respect against Real Madrid in December’s Club World Cup.

    In the wake of Jazira’s stunning title triumph a year ago, Ten Cate revealed he rejected the chance to replace Danny Blind as the then Netherlands boss.

    He instead chose to stay another year and even though their title defence was a limp one, as the club struggled to seventh place, they impressed with the world watching in December as well as on the continent after two previous poor showings. And Ten Cate was happy he played his part.

    “I am very happy and honored that I left after I played my role in winning the President’s Cup, the Arabian Gulf League, fourth place in the FIFA Club World Cup, and also reaching the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League,” he added.

    “I would like to offer my deep gratitude and sincere appreciation to the management of Al Jazira, to the players, the assistants, the doctors, the admin staff, the employees of the club, and also to the fans, because all of the them were part of the wonderful time I spent here.

    “They were a genuine element in the team who achieved a lot during the last 30 months.”

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