Dubai: The UAE Football Association (UAE FA) have confirmed former Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza as the new manager of the UAE national team.
اتحاد الكرة يتعاقد مع الأرجنتيني إدجاردو باوزا لقيادة المنتخب الأول .. https://t.co/8IZgtc61gM pic.twitter.com/XEG35c1csa
— uaefa (@uaefa_ae) May 11, 2017
The 59-year-old Argentine signed a contract believed to be two-years in duration on Thursday morning and will be unveiled to the media at the UAE FA headquarters in Al Khawaneej from 7.30pm tonight.
The two-time Copa Libertadores winner, most known for tempting Lionel Messi out of international retirement, replaces Emirati Mahdi Ali who quit the post following the Whites’ 2-0 2018 World Cup qualifying defeat away to Australia in March.
That loss left the UAE four points off a minimum required third-place finish to reach Russia with three games remaining.
Bauza was sacked as coach of Argentina in April after just eight games in charge, leaving the Albiceleste fifth in their World Cup qualifying group in a cross-continental play-off spot, one point off automatic qualification with four games to go.
The new coach will be tasked with winning the UAE’s last three qualifiers in the bleak hope that one of the three sides above them – most likely Saudi Arabia, who have the hardest run-in – suffer a dramatic collapse.
The Whites play Thailand away on June 13, Saudi Arabia at home on August 31 and Iraq away on September 5.
Bauza doesn’t speak English and has just four months experience in the region managing Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in 2009. Argentina was his only international experience. His career highlight was twice winning the Copa Libertadores with Ecuador’s LDU Quito in 2010 and Argentina’s San Lorenzo in 2014.
