Bert van Marwijk provides injection of positivity for UAE after years of decay

A World Cup 2010 finalist with the Netherlands. The man who wrenched Saudi Arabia from mediocrity, earning a cherished spot at the 2018 edition after 12 years away.

What more could you want ahead of the lengthy run to Qatar 2022?

Significant hurdles hinder a second-ever entry. In Van Marwijk though, an optimal chance of clearing them has been procured.

Negativity had become all-pervasive with the UAE after the paternal Mahdi Ali’s once-wonderful reign unravelled throughout a traumatic opening in World Cup 2018 qualification and a ‘Golden Generation’ steadily lost its sheen, despite immense promise.

Failed Argentina tactician Edgardo Bauza, predictability, could not inject life into the moribund final throes on the hazard-strewn ‘Road to Russia’.

October 2017’s decision to then rouse the outdated Alberto Zaccheroni led to a sparsity of entertainment and strong results. The Whites did not get Serie A’s 1998/99 winner with AC Milan or Japan’s 2011 Asian Cup champion.

Blinded by past achievement, they ignored World Cup 2014’s failure with the Samurai Blue or the wretched five months spent at Chinese Super League’s Beijing Guoan in 2016.

A semi-final run from the previous Asian edition was repeated by him this January. But the vibe could scarcely have been any different, as humiliation rather than harmony reigned.

Van Marwijk’s inheritance is this wreckage of broken dreams.

His in tray at the UAE FA’s Al Khawaneej headquarters is packed with problems and pitfalls.

Coherence has proven anathema within the governing body’s corridors. Restraining competing interests and creating proper pathways is vital.

So, too, forging a playing style and identity that fits his squad’s characteristics. Plus, instilling discipline and belief that eroded since the zenith of Ali’s reign in the mid-part of the decade.

Reinvigorating the likes of playmaker Omar Abdulrahman and forward Ahmed Khalil is, also, utterly essential. Striker Ali Mabkhout cannot do it all on his own – as this torturous Asian Cup exemplified.

Belated acceptance of these issues has led the UAE to Van Marwijk’s door.

These issues are familiar ones to him. They all applied to the Saudis upon his August 2015 ascension.

He exited during September – a rupture with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation caused by his steadfast reluctance to live there was to blame – in the wake of hallowed qualification to World Cup 2018.

Van Marwijk has been in the Middle East’s hottest seat and succeeded. This makes him uniquely qualified to join the Whites, at this moment.

The 66-year-old will also be firmly aware that reasons to believe exist.

Abdulrahman, Khalil, Mabkhout and their contemporaries, by age alone, should enter their footballing prime during qualifying.

Underneath this group, the Under-23s claimed a creditable bronze at 2018’s Asian Games.

Al Wahda’s Mohamed Al Shamsi is an outstanding prospect in goal who will push current No1 Khalid Essa. Defenders Mohamed Al Attas, Khalifa Al Hammadi and Ahmed Rashid all possess the potential to replace the old guard of Ismail Ahmed and Mohanad Salem.

Al Jazira playmaker Khalfan Mubarak can only keep improving.

Powerhouse midfielder Majed Surour is getting regular game time at shock Arabian Gulf League-pacesetters Sharjah, while 19-year-old Al Wasl forward Ali Saleh scored a solo goal of staggering quality at Saudi Arabian giants Al Ahli Jeddah in last month’s Zayed Champions Cup-knockout clash.

Van Marwijk’s CV has blemishes. Not least an unsatisfactory group-stage exit with Australia at World Cup 2018, in which a lack of creativity and stodgy possession turned off local media.

Plus, he became one of many managerial casualties at German basket case Hamburg in a first job after his four-year Netherlands adventure.

These are to be expected of any tactician still working in his seventh decade of life.

The UAE have been uncharacteristically bold, decisive and discerning to draft him in. They will hope requisite reward follows.