Arruabarrena faces stern introduction to UAE role as World Cup bid reaches finale

Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s track record within UAE football is surely impressive.

There were the second- and third-place finishes in the league across consecutive seasons with Al Wasl; the first, in his debut season in the Emirates, represented the Dubai’s club best performance in a decade.

At the end of his second campaign, in 2018, Wasl contested the President’s Cup final and the Arabian Gulf Cup showpiece, as well.

Although beaten in both, the twin defeats did not diminish Arruabarrena’s appeal. When a short spell at Qatar’s Al Rayyan ended prematurely, Shabab Al Ahli moved for the Argentine, and the decision was soon vindicated. This time, he guided his new team to success in both domestic cups, while also finishing runner-up in the league.

It meant Arruabarrena’s dismissal midway through the following season came as a shock. Shabab Al Ahli had lost the Arabian Gulf Cup final only months previously, but their manager’s tenure was terminated while they sat top of the league.

Still, Arraubarrena’s stock remained high. Let go in March 2020, by the end of the month he had agreed to join Sharjah, the reigning UAE champions, the following summer. Ultimately, though, the move did not materialise; a change in administration at the club ensured Abdulaziz Al Anbari continued as coach instead.

A seven-month stint with Egyptian side Pyramids since, now Arruabarrena finds himself back in Dubai. Last month, he was named manager of the UAE national team, succeeding Bert van Marwijk. He has been charged, initially, with guiding the side through this month’s conclusion to the final round of qualification for the 2022 World Cup and into the play-offs for a place in Qatar.

Sitting in the play-off spot in Group A with two matches remaining