Well with Weah, Sergio, Daei, Karimi and a bunch of other high profile players on their way to play in the UAE league, perhaps its time we take notice. Could someone familiar with UAE football let us in on the facilities, teams, players and the league in general. What are the current and future ambitions of the league?
Well, they are spending LOTS of money on the league. Almost everyteam has an A class high profile coach. The facilities are top notch. They are also filling the league up with stars. Recently there has been a massive import of Iranian players there. Ali Karimi, Mehrdad Minavand (CL experience), Ali Daei (CL experience), DinMohammadi, Hamed Kavianpour, Farhad Majidi, and some others are part of UAE league.
I heard a rumor that the country will change names to UIE to support all the Iranian players that have transferred there. LOLLLLLL
Re: Metsu the funny part is that Metsu just intended to coach in UAE for a short period of time. He said he's just having a break from being the Senegalese coach. But then, Senegal's FA fired him saying "there's no break in the Segegalese football."
Former Colombian international Hamilton Ricard is apparently also going to the UAE... don't know which club.
Sergio, the Brazilian from Bayern Munich just signed with Al-Wahda. In an interview Daei said that the facilites in UAE is that of the same in Germany.
Daei looking forward to UAE League "AFC - Iran striker Ali Daei has said that he is looking forward to playing in the United Arab Emirates league in the upcoming season, after being thoroughly impressed by the ambitions of his new club Al Shabab. The 1999 Asian Football Confederation Player of the Year recently signed for the Dubai club after playing in the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin. Daei said he was very impressed with his new club and is now focussed on helping Al Shabab to reach new heights in the 2002-03 season. "The management of the German clubs is better but the facilities of the UAE equal that of Germany," said Daei. "Everyone here wants to have professional football and works hard to reach this aim. The foreign coaches insist that all players be present for team practices on time and the Al Shabab practices of last week were nicely organized. "Thank God that all is well. We train every day. Sometimes we work only once a day and sometimes twice. We began the practice sessions last week. "Right now I am completely at peace here and I want to be fully fit and prepared for the new UAE season." Daei added that he is working well with international compatriot Mehrdad Minavand, who recently arrived from Iranian club giants Pirouzi on a two-year contract worth US$1 million. "Minavand and I work well together. We have had a few preliminary matches with both us playing in them," said the former Asian Player of the Year. The Iranian's only concern has been adjusting to the weather since his return to the region. "The hot climate of the UAE is not at all comparable with Europe and this is our main problem. I have no problems with the coaches and the staff. My problem is the heat," he added." From: http://www.asian-football.com/mrel/news_41929_E.html
Is the UAE league better than the Saudi League? How do you all think it compares with the K-League or the J-League?
I don't follow the UAE league, but usualy at the end of a match between a team from saudi, and a team from UAE, the winner is the saudi team.
SB you are right if you mean NT,but clubs i don't think so I don't agree getting players from europe they never shine we should stick to Africa , Iran & S. America for talent. And i competely agree with Daei on the mangement issue.
oil money finally paying off huh? lived in dubai(UAE) for 11 years. why the hell didnt they start bring in the players earlier???
Hi guys im new to the board, im currently living in Abu Dhabi captial city of the U.A.E. and I watch a lot of the local games...Ali Karimi had an impressive first game last week scoring a hat trick for his club Al Ahli in a 5-0 win over Al Shabab....in other results Al Ain is still looking impressive in the league with a quick 6 points despite getting knocked out of the champions league, Al Wahda is second in the stands with 4 points in 2 games...Watch out for Ismail Mattar a homebred talent in the league...u guys need results anytime just let me know
Dam Hilali Emirates League Round 3 results Al Nasr 3 Al Ain 0 Al Wahda 2 Al Ahli 1 Al Wasl 1 Al Jazira 1 Sharjah 5 Al Shaab 1 Al Shabab 4 Emirates 1 Al Dhafra 6 Al Khaleej 3 Al Ittihad 3 Dubai 0 P W D L F A GD Pts Al Wahda 3 2 1 0 6 2 4 7 Al Jazira 3 2 1 0 7 5 2 7 Sharjah 3 2 0 1 10 7 3 6 Al Ain 3 2 0 1 5 5 0 6 Al Wasl 3 1 2 0 2 2 0 5 Al Ittihad 3 1 1 1 4 2 2 4 Al Nasr 3 1 1 1 8 6 2 4 Dubai 3 1 1 1 4 6 -2 4 Al Ahli 3 1 0 2 6 4 2 3 Al Dhafra 3 1 0 2 11 10 1 3 Al Shaab 3 1 0 2 5 8 -3 3 Emirates 3 1 0 2 2 5 -3 3 Al Shabab 3 1 0 2 4 9 -5 3 Al Khaleej 3 0 1 2 9 8 1 1