Dubai: Aitor Karanka, Jose Mourinho’s former assistant at Real Madrid, tops a wish list to replace Quique Sanchez Flores at Al Ahli along with former Al Jazira coach Abel Braga, according to a source.
The 39-year-old former Atletico Bilbao defender managed Spain’s Under-16 team from 2008 to 2010 before joining Mourinho at Real Madrid. Al Ahli would be his first full managerial role.
Fellow candidate Braga, 60, who currently coaches Fluminense in Brazil, won the Etisalat Pro League and President’s Cup double with Abu Dhabi side Al Jazira in 2011.
An unnamed source told Gulf News: “Karanka is the favourite. He is currently here in Dubai and Mourinho himself has advised Abdullah Al Naboudah to sign him.”
Elsewhere Dynamo Moscow chairman Gennady Solovyov has dismissed rumours linking their coach Dan Petrescu to the managerial vacancy at Al Nasr. Solovyov told Russian press: “There is no problem between us. I have not met him since he left at the end of the season and I look forward to talking with Dan to clarify this situation. We made a plan for transfers and have a list and clear goals we must achieve. I have no idea where all these rumours have come from.”
