Bauza receives new offer to become UAE boss, is ahead of compatriot Calderon

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • In exalted company: Edgardo Bauza with Lionel Messi (Getty).

    Edgardo Bauza has been made a new, improved offer to become the next UAE coach and is ahead of fellow Argentine Gabriel Calderon in the sinuous race to succeed Mahdi Ali, following a failure to hire Reinaldo Rueda.

    An insurmountable desire from the aforementioned Colombian to stay with Copa Libertadores holders Atletico Nacional until two days after the Whites’ critical next World Cup 2018 qualifier, in Thailand on June 13, saw advanced discussions on a two-year deal terminated in midweek.

    Recently-dismissed Argentina boss Bauza, 59, has now been reprioritised to take up the role by UAE Football Association president Marwan bin Ghalita and general secretary Ibrahim Al Nemer.

    He rejected a $3.5 million-per-annum contract until the 2019 Asian Cup – to be held in the Emirates – only 10 days ago, meaning fresh negotiations could be fraught with a man who previously undertook just eight matches at the helm of his nation after taking over in August 2016.

    El Paton also had a short spell at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in 2009. His major managerial achievement is making minnows LDU Quito the only Ecuadorian club to lift the Libertadores, during his first stint there from 2006-08.

    He went on to lift the same trophy with San Lorenzo three years ago, prior to a period with Brazil’s Sao Paulo.

    An intermediary has been given a mandate to present the candidacy of former Al Wasl, Bani Yas and Saudi tactician Calderon – who joined Bauza in Argentina’s World Cup 1990 squad – on Saturday. He will accept an offer to fill Iraq’s vacancy if no concrete talks are held by Monday.

    The 57-year-old has spoken openly in his country about the UAE position, telling Clarin newspaper on Thursday: “It is with pride that I am one of the [UAE] candidates. I know the football of the region, the idiosyncrasies of that country and also its players.”

    Calderon was the last coach to qualify the Green Falcons to a World Cup, but was sacked in the build-up to the 2006 tournament. The ex-Paris Saint-Germain midfielder led Oman to a group-stage exit at the 2007 Asian Cup, plus had an undistinguished stint with Bahrain.

    The UAE FA initially stated they would have a new boss in place by mid-April. In addition to the false starts with Rueda and Bauza, Alejandro Sabella – who guided Argentina to defeat in World Cup 2014’s final – turned the job down on health grounds.

    The Whites are fourth with three games left in the third-and-final round of qualifying, one place and four points outside the advancement spots in Group B.

    Recommended