Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre insists rumours surrounding future don't interest him

Matt Jones - Editor 18:58 03/04/2017
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  • Al Wahda coach Javier Aguirre is unconcerned about rumours surrounding his future

    Javier Aguirre insists he has no time for rumours surrounding his Al Wahda future and says is happy to have been gainfully employed in professional football for four decades.

    The former Atletico Madrid chief’s contract expires in June and reports in Romania on Sunday surfaced linking Steaua Bucharest manager Laurentiu Reghecampf with a move to Al Nahyan Stadium as a replacement for the Mexican this summer.

    The 41-year-old Reghecampf previously led Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to the final of the 2014 AFC Champions League, where they were defeated 1-0 on aggregate by Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers.

    Reghecampf returned to take charge of the Red and Blues for a second stint in 2015 but Sport.ro claims he travelled to Doha in February to hold talks with Wahda officials during the club’s opening Champions League game against Qatar’s Al Rayyan in Group D – which also features his old club, Hilal.

    “Of course I heard about the rumours about a new coach but I have no time to distract myself because my team needs me, 100 per cent,” Aguirre said at his press conference ahead of the Clarets’ return to Arabian Gulf League action tomorrow against Emirates Club following the international break.

    “It’s part of my job. I’m 58 this year and I was 18 when I signed my first contract, so I’ve been involved in professional football for 40 years. Thank god I’ve had a job every year.”

    Aguirre, who managed Mexico at the 2002 World Cup and has also taken charge of Asia heavyweights Japan, has enjoyed a largely successful spell in his two-year spell in Abu Dhabi.

    He led Wahda to the Arabian Gulf Cup last season and back into the Champions League this year for the first time since 2011. But, with his contract rapidly running down, his future is a topic of hot debate in the capital.

    Wahda travel to the relegation-threatened Falcons tomorrow and face a busy April.

    The visit of AGL champions Al Ahli and trip to take on joint record President’s Cup holders Sharjah are sandwiched in between a trip to Hilal and the home fixture against Rayyan in the Champions League, while they close out the month with a daunting voyage to Al Ain.

    And Aguirre added: “I have to give the owners good results and if not that’s it, you’re out. Even with good results you need to change, it’s all part of your development as a coach. We will see of course. We face a tough April and then we will see what happens in May.”

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