UAE Olympic team boss Mahdi Ali is to be appointed the new coach of the senior national team on a three-year deal, a spokesman for the UAE FA has confirmed.
Mahdi, who led the UAE in the men’s football tournament at London 2012, has still to sign his contract that will see him take charge until the Asian Cup in 2015, but an agreement has been reached.
“Yes, Mahdi has agreed to become the new boss of the senior team,” a spokesman told Sport360°. “But the technical committee still need to prepare everything with Mahdi.
He added: “An announcement could come as early as tomorrow or later in the week, I think. But everything is agreed for him to take charge up to 2015.”
Mahdi’s appointment comes as as little surprise to many after his impressive success with the Under-23 team in guiding them to their first ever appearance at the Olympic Games.
The Whites have been on lookout for a permanent successor to former coach Srecko Katanec since he was sacked September following a torrid start to the country’s failed 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.
His temporary replacement Dr Abdullah Misfir failed to spark a revival as UAE lost all but one of their qualifiers, winning their final game against Lebanon 4-2 in Abu Dhabi.
Argentine legend Diego Maradona, recently axed at Al Wasl, and Italian World Cup-winner Marcello Lippi had both been linked with the post, but the spokesman insists Mahdi was always the No1 choice. “There were many names, but the first name now is Mahdi Ali,” he said.
Mahdi’s appointment was rubber-stamped at an UAEFA technical committee meeting on Monday night with the spokesman revealing president Yousef Alserkal championed had championed for the 47-year-old to be handed the top job.
“Last night, Youself Alserkal talked about how good Mahdi is as a coach. He talked about his achievements in London and his good history in football and why the association should choose Mahdi Ali. There were many reasons.”
Mahdi’s immediate task will be to prepare his side for the Gulf Cup which takes place in Bahrain in January 2013, before setting his sights on the Asian Cup two years later.
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