AGL team-by-team guide 2015-16

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Heating up: The Arabian Gulf League promises to be highly competitive this season.

    The new Arabian Gulf League season begins this week and here Sport360 has compiled the ultimate guide to each team including predictions, vital statistics and key transfer news.

    AL AHLI 

    Stadium: Rashid Stadium

    Coach: Cosmin Olaroiu Last season: 7th

    Key ins: Hassan Abdulrahman (Dubai SC), Mohammed Al Khoori (Al Dhafra), Lima (Benfica)

    Star man: Everton Ribeiro

    One to watch: Saeed Jassim

    Verdict: Expect a Red Knights fightback. A chronic lack of goals undermined their title defence, but Lima will fire them up.

    AL AIN 

    Stadium: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium

    Coach: Zlatko Dalic

    Last season: Champions

    Key ins: Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Fellipe Bastos (Vasco Da Gama), Ryan Babel (Kasimpasa)

    Star man: Omar Abdulrahman

    One to watch: Ahmed Barman

    Verdict: Loss of Asamoah Gyan appears to have been weathered. Still, just about, the team to beat.

    BANI YAS 

    Stadium: Bani Yas Stadium

    Coach: Luis Garcia

    Last season: 8th

    Key ins: Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Thamer Mohammed (Al Wasl), Joaquin Larrivey (Celta Vigo), Ishak Belfodil (Parma)

    Star man: Amer Abdulrahman

    One to watch: Bandar Al Ahbabi

    Verdict: Garcia must deliver after underwhelming first season. Excellent buys will help.

    AL DHAFRA 

    Stadium: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Stadium

    Coach: Laurent Banide

    Last season: 11th Key ins: Jorge Luna (Santiago Wanderers), Ahmad Ibrahim (Ajman), David Barral (Levante), Ahmed Ali (Bani Yas)

    Star man: Makhete Diop

    One to watch: Abdulrahman Yousef

    Verdict: The Western Knights will be much improved in 2015/16.

    DIBBA AL FUJAIRAH 

    Stadium: Fujairah Stadium

    Coach: Theo Bucker

    Last season: Champions, UAE Division 1 Group A

    Key ins: Bilal Najjarine (Al Dhafra), Elias Luiz (Al Fateh), Mohammed Qassim (Al Dhafra), Boris Kabi (Ajman), Bakary Kone (Wydad Casablanca)

    Star man: Boris Kabi

    One to watch: Bakary Kone

    Verdict: Have given themselves a fighting chance of survival. Form of lethal Kabi will be vital.

    EMIRATES CLUB

    Stadium: Emirates Club Stadium

    Coach: Paulo Comelli

    Last season: 10th

    Key ins: Brett Holman (Al Nasr), Helal Saeed (Al Nasr), Essa Abdulla (Al Wahda), Rodrigo Pimpao (Botafgo)

    Star man: Brett Holman

    One to watch: Alhasan Saleh

    Verdict: Holman is a great buy, but will he be enough alone to fend off relegation? The Hawks could drop unless they better last term’s 34- goal tally. Will need both newly-promoted clubs to suffer.

    Emirates man: Brett Holman.

    FUJAIRAH 

    Stadium: Fujairah Stadium

    Coach: Ivan Hasek

    Last season: 9th

    Key ins: Christophe Mandanne (Guingamp), Patrick Friday Eze (Mladost Lucani), Mubarak Hassan (Ajman), Saoud Saeed (Al Nasr)

    Star man: Hassan Maatouk

    One to watch: Patrick Friday Eze

    Verdict: The Wolves enjoyed a solid top-flight return last term. Expect striker Eze to fire them further up the standings. Could be season’s surprise package.

    AL JAZIRA 

    Stadium: Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium

    Coach: Abel Braga

    Last season: 2nd

    Key ins: Thiago Neves (Al Hilal), Park Jong-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Jefferson Farfan (Schalke 04), Fares Juma (Al Ain)

    Star man: Ali Mabkhout

    One to watch: Khalfan Mubarak

    Verdict: The Pride of Abu Dhabi look fearsome. Returning boss Braga won it all in previous stint. Superb new signings should address defensive issues. Real contenders for a first title since 2011, also under the Brazilian.

    AL NASR 

    Stadium: Al Maktoum Stadium

    Coach: Ivan Jovanovic

    Last season: 5th

    Key ins: Luis Jimenez (Al Ahli), Salem Saleh (Al Wahda), Khalid Jalal (Al Wahda), Nilmar (Internacional), Jonathan Pitroipa (Al Jazira)

    Star man: Nilmar

    One to watch: Rashed Mohammed Omar

    Verdict: The first XI looks much stronger, but question marks remains about squad depth. This could stop a double cup win from turning into title joy.

    AL WASL 

    Stadium: Zabeel Stadium

    Coach: Gabriel Calderon

    Last season: 6th

    Key ins: Caio Canedo (Internacional), Edgar Bruno (Al Shabab), Hazza Salem (Al Ain), Hassan Ameen (Al Jazira)

    Star man: Fabio De Lima

    One to watch: Ali Al Balushi

    Verdict: A full season under boss Calderon will continue their excellent progress. Expect a steady AGL campaign and deep cup runs.

    AL WAHDA 

    Stadium: Al Nahyan Stadium

    Coach: Javier Aguirre

    Last season: 4th

    Key ins: Denilson (Sao Paulo), Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Mohammed Salem (Al Ain)

    Star man: Jorge Valdivia

    One to watch: Mohamed Al Akbari

    Verdict: There is rightly huge excitement about the Clarets. Could crash the AGL title race.

    SHARJAH 

    Stadium: Sharjah Stadium

    Coach: Paulo Bonamigo

    Last season: 12th

    Key ins: Renato Caja (Ponte Preta), Maicosuel (Atletico Mineiro), Waleed Ahmed (Ajman), Hamdan Qassim (Al Shabab)

    Star man: Wanderley

    One to watch: Yousif Saeed

    Verdict: Last season’s struggles were a shock for the King, but they might not be isolated.

    Shajrah new boy Maicosuel.

    AL SHABAB 

    Stadium: Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium

    Coach: Caio Junior Last season: 3rd

    Key ins: Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Khalifa Abdulla (Al Wasl), Khalifa bin Lahej (Al Wasl), Maher Jassim (Al Wasl)

    Star man: Carlos Villanueva

    One to watch: Rashid Hassan

    Verdict: Can the Hawks punch above their weight again? Much rests on the displays of Jo.

    AL SHAAB 

    Stadium: Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium

    Coach: Tarek El Ashry

    Last season: 2nd, UAE Division 1 Group A

    Key ins: Celios Santos (Tractor Sazi), Matias Donoso (Cobresal), Fahad Obeid (Al Nasr), Amr Al Sulaya (Ismaily)

    Star man: Michael N’dri

    One to watch: Amr Al Sulaya

    Verdict: Al Sulaya should be a star, yet Shaab look too weak.

    Recommended