UAE defender Hamdan Al Kamali has credited Al Wahda boss Javier Aguirre for turning around his fortunes for club and country.
Al Kamali, 27, cast aside the fitness problems of 2014/15 during the Mexican’s debut season in charge.
He played 27 times in all competitions as his side finished third to qualify for the 2017 AFC Champions League play-offs and ended a six-year drought without a major trophy thanks to victory in the Arabian Gulf Cup.
This upturn saw the ex-UAE captain handed a return to the international fold for the King’s Cup in Thailand earlier this month, shortly after inking a long-term extension to his Clarets deal.
“I’m very happy to have signed a new contract with the club for five more years,” said Al Kamali.
“All the people know about Aguirre and he helped me to be a very good player and helped me in training.
“This season I was injured only once. [The coaching staff] have a good relation with the coach of the national team and so they talked to him about me.
“Aguirre is a very important coach. He’s the best coach for Wahda at this moment.
“Inshallah, in the next year I’ll do my best to be in the AFC Champions League once again and I’ll try my best regarding the Arabian Gulf League and the President’s Cup.”
Ex-Lyon loanee Al Kamali is a maturing figure in Emirates football, sharing a dressing room domestically and internationally with prodigies such as Mohamed Al Akbari and Khalid Bawazir.