The saddest aspect of Walter Zenga’s departure from Al Jazira, was that while the club’s official Twitter delivered the news with a disingenuous exclamation mark, it came as no great surprise.
While the Italian coach insisted that negotiations over an extension to the 20-month deal he signed last October were ongoing, it had become an accepted fact that he would be moving on in the summer.
Having led Jazira to the AFC Champions League knockout phase for only the second time in their history, while masterminding their run to the Arabian Gulf League Cup final and a top-three Arabian Gulf League finish, he should be able to walk away with his head held high.
When he took over from the often shambolic reign of Luis Milla, those were his exact targets. Yet, in hindsight, the writing has been on the wall for a while.
Zenga’s demeanour around the club, and particularly in press conferences had changed since the beginning of April. As a busy fixture schedule began to catch up on his side, out went the swagger and the jokes and in their place came criticism of other teams’ tactics and the professionalism of his own players.
The Italian has also been keen to justify his work at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, insisting on a twice-weekly basis that he had made no decision without the approval of the club.
He undoubtedly has a point — as well as an initial upswing in results he has also blooded several exciting talents — however, they are not the remarks of a man who was confident he would be sticking around for long. More of a coach who knew deep down his time was up.
Indeed, even following his side’s 1-0 final day win over Sharjah, achieved with a squad completely made up from reserve and youth team players, he was far from ecstatic.
There is sure to be some revisionism from the club, too, as Zenga’s overall statistics from his seven months in Abu Dhabi are not all that impressive. Of 35 games in all competitions, Jazira won 15, drew nine and lost 11.
From the beginning of April, the Abu Dhabi club played 11 games, losing seven and winning only three. But that was because his young team had run out of steam and having picked them up off their knees in October, the Italian will feel he deserved to be given time to rectify the situation.
Neither was Zenga helped by the club’s transfer business in January that acquired Felipe Caicedo and Jucilei, two players of obvious quality but who have not had the impact that was expected.
Caicedo will lead the Ecuador attack at this summer’s World Cup but has at times played with the determination of a man who is just trying to keep fit for Brazil.
Getting the most out of his talent will no longer be Zenga’s problem. It looks increasingly likely that it will fall into the lap of Belgian coach Eric Gerets.
The former PSV Eindhoven, Galatasaray and Al Hilal coach certainly has pedigree and would arrive in Abu Dhabi on the back of a championship-winning season with Lekhwiya in Qatar.
Gerets is also the man who handed Abdelaziz Barrada his international debut for Morocco, so has experience working with the club’s biggest asset.
Having coached former Rangers defender Majid Bougherra for the past two seasons, he is also well placed to shore up a problem area for the club with a player keen on moving to the UAE.
The Belgian, therefore, looks to be an astute choice to replace Zenga, but it is a job that should not have needed to have been filled. Another statement with no need for an exclamation mark.
