Intermediaries have offered the UAE Football Association an Iberian takeover of their main international sides with victorious Spain Under-19 head coach Santi Denia proposed as the next Under-23 boss, alongside Spain U-21’s Luis de la Fuente leading the seniors.
This option is live at a time when an agreement with Jorge Luis Pinto – who led Costa Rica to World Cup 2014’s quarter-finals – remains elusive. Representatives of the 67-year-old Colombian spurned an initial offer that was received late last week.
The governing body is set to imminently meet again to discuss latest developments. Al Ittihad newspaper reported on Sunday that Al Dhafra’s Vuk Rasovic is the current favourite for the post, ahead of; revered former Al Ain and Al Ahli leader Cosmin Olaroiu, ex-Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club and Al Wasl coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Pinto and Juan Antonio Pizzi – the one-time Barcelona centre forward who guided Saudi Arabia at World Cup 2018.
A tumultuous spell for the Whites witnessed beaten World Cup 2010 finalist Bert van Marwijk sacked in the wake of the winter’s painful Gulf Cup campaign, after 260 days in charge. Replacement Ivan Jovanovic’s six-month deal was then terminated in April without playing a match because of the coronavirus pandemic, leaving them to hunt a fifth manager in three years.
Maciej Skorza is still listed as in charge of the UAE U-23s on the governing body’s website. TVP Sport declared in February, however, that the Pole exited in the aftermath of January’s failure to secure Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualification at the AFC U-23 Championship.
Denia and De la Fuente – plus Pinto – both lack the Middle Eastern experienced craved by the UAE FA. They do, though, boast impressive CVs.
The latter-mentioned Spaniard was initially linked to the UAE earlier this month. He won La Liga twice as a left-back, in a glorious first spell, at Athletic Bilbao from 1981-87.
The 59-year-old was then drafted into Spain’s youth system in 2013. Success at the 2015 European U-19 Championship led to July 2018’s promotion to the U-21s, where he claimed another continental tournament last summer with Denia as assistant.
Denia’s football career has followed a similar path. He won the 1995/96 La Liga crown during nine years as a centre-back at Atletico Madrid.
Jorge Luis Pinto with Honduras.
A move into management saw him progress up the age groups with Spain since July 2010.
The 46-year-old has lifted four European Championships, among various sides. The latest came at July 2019’s U-19s event in Armenia, with coveted Valencia flyer Ferran Torres part of the squad.
Added urgency for the senior search has been provided by confirmation that the delayed second round of AFC qualifying for World Cup 2022 will be completed in October and November. These games were originally scheduled for March and June, before being suspended because of the pandemic.
The UAE sit fourth in Group G, five points off leaders Vietnam. They do, however, boast a game in hand.
Only the eight group winners are guaranteed to progress to the third-and-final round, alongside the four best runners-up.
The UAE – who have only previously competed at Italia ’90 – host Malaysia on October 8 and travel to Indonesia on October 13. Their commitments will be rounded out by high-pressure home clashes with Thailand (November 12) and Vietnam (November 17).
