Pizzi, Jardim and Riberov choose to leave after league end

3 coaches flew in the "blink of an eye"

  • Shabab Al Ahli coach Leonardo Jardim. Emirates Today

  • Al Wasl Argentine coach Juan Pizzi. Cinematographer: Eric Arazas

  • Ukrainian Al Ain coach Sergey Rebrov. From the source

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ADNOC Professional League clubs are going through an unprecedented situation at the level of coaches' contracts, after the last period witnessed the approach of more than six coaches to leave the clubs at the end of the league competition, as the departure of three coaches in the "blink of an eye" was unexpectedly confirmed despite the distinguished results achieved by these coaches.

While the league clubs were deciding to dispense with coaches without warning during the season and after the end of the season, the past days have seen the departure of three coaches according to their desire to have new experiences.

Topping the list of late coaches is Portuguese Leonardo Jardim, who decided not to continue with Shabab Al Ahli, and came close to moving to coach Qatar's Al Rayyan for an annual salary of 10 million euros, according to the Portuguese newspaper "Abula", while the Spanish newspaper "Relivo" indicated that Saudi Al Hilal seeks to restore the services of its former coach, with whom he won the 2021 AFC Champions League title, as part of the "leader's" efforts to make the project of contracting with Argentine star Lionel Messi a success by contracting with Jardim and including Spanish star Sergio Busquets.

The «Dubai Knights» had contracted with Leonardo Jardim last summer to become the first Portuguese coach to coach Shabab Al Ahli throughout its history, as the ball company bet that the team will provide an exceptional season under the leadership of the 48-year-old coach, and Jardim has already succeeded in returning the league title to the club's treasury after an absence of seven years.

The second coach who will leave the ADNOC Professional League is Ukrainian Sergei Rebrov after two seasons during which he led Al Ain, as the Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed on his personal account in «Twitter» that Riberov became the coach of the Ukrainian national team, and said: «Al Ain coach will become the coach of the Ukrainian national team», adding: «The Ukrainian Football Association agreed with coach Sergei Riberov to take over the coaching of the local team, provided that the official announcement will be made in the coming days, as a final agreement has been reached between the two parties».

It is noteworthy that Riberov expires his contract with Al Ain at the end of this season, as he will play the final of the Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank Cup on Saturday, against Sharjah.

For his part, the departure of Argentine coach Juan Antonio Pizzi from Al Wasl training was confirmed, after Chairman Ahmed Al Shafar announced in press statements that Pizzi will not continue with the 'emperor' while the next destination for the former Chile and Saudi coach has not been determined.

Pizzi achieved good results with the Cheetahs this season, after finishing fourth as the best position achieved by the yellow in the competition since 2018, but the lack of an agreement between the club's management and the Argentine coach contributed to the end of his career after only one season in Zabeel.

On the other hand, the list of coaches officially departed from the ADNOC Professional League includes the Dutchman Marcel Kaiser, who announced the end of his career with Al Jazira after four seasons in which he led the "pride of Abu Dhabi", while Al Wahda, Al Nasr, Bani Yas and Sharjah clubs are among the most prominent clubs that decide the identity of the coach who will lead each team next season. The 'Annabi' is currently led by the Dutchman Arnaud Poetenweg on an interim basis until the end of the season since the dismissal of Spanish coach Manuel Jimenez, and the same for Al Nasr, who signed with Croatian Goran Tomic until the end of the season to succeed German Thorsten Fink.

Bani Yas is preparing to sign a new coach after the end of the contract of Romanian Daniel Isaila, who received more than one offer to stay in the ADNOC Professional League, while Sharjah has not decided on the renewal of the contract of Romanian Olario Cosmin, who is one of the names nominated to take over the training of Al Jazira to succeed the Dutch Kaiser.

Al-Khudairi: Not exceeding the ceiling of contracts is a positive step from the league clubs

The players' agent, Mohammed Abdulrahman Al-Khudairi, said that the departure of a number of coaches from ADNOC Professional League clubs due to obtaining other offers is not a negative factor, stressing that the clubs' administrations have developed in dealing with the file of contracts in the transfer market.

Al-Khudairi explained to «Emirates Today»: «The clubs' adherence not to exceed the ceiling of contracts and not to yield to the requests of coaches is a positive thing», explaining: «that clubs have become more experienced and familiar with the way to deal with contracts, whether for players or coaches, and there is no doubt that commitment to the budget set for each team is very important and emerges in the first place before making the decision to contract with a coach or player».

He added: «The departure of some prominent names of coaches certainly may affect technically in these clubs, especially coaches who had a good imprint with their clubs, but at the same time there are policies that should not be exceeded, the most important of which is commitment to the ceiling of contracts».