Dubai: After much speculation, coach Ivan Hasek has resigned as chairman of the Czech Football Association and pledged his allegiance to Al Ahli Club where he won the league back in 2009.
CeskeNoviny.cz confirmed that the 47-year-old Hasek had announced his resignation at the end of the Czech Football Association's annual general meeting in Prague on Sunday. Hours later the Al Ahli website confirmed the coach's rejoining.
The Czech News Agency reported footballer-turned-lawyer Hasek had said he had succeeded in economically stabilising Czech football during his two-year tenure to a standard that he now felt he could justify a move back to his previous job with Al Ahli in Dubai.
"The role of saviour Hasek is over. Believe me this is not an easy decision to resign from this post. I am returning back to where I belong, to the coach's profession. I will go to the place that I left two years ago, to Al Ahli," said Hasek.
"I could not say it out loud, but my place is on the training ground. I know I have not finished the work I started, but I have to go my own way. The changes were started and I hope my successor will continue my work."
Meanwhile, Al Ahli Club confirmed Hasek's arrival on their website on Sunday night just hours after the Czech coach resigned from his post at the FA. He was pictured signing the contract at the club with chairman Abdullah Al Naboudah presumably in the weeks leading up to his resignation. Sources close to the club have said Hasek will arrive in Dubai to take up duties at the club on July 7. He is replacing coach David O'Leary, who was sacked after eight months. Abdul Hamed Al Mistaki was then appointed as the interim coach.
Rumours of the former Sparta Prague, Strasbourg, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and JEF United Ichihara midfielder returning to coach Al Ahli have been widespread but unconfirmed for over a month.
Hasek who played 54 times for the former Czechoslovakia, also played once for the Czech Republic after the disintegration of Czechoslovakia in 1992. He successfully managed Sparta Prague, Strasbourg, Vissel Kobe, Al Wasl, Saint Etienne, Al Ahli and the Czech national team before taking the job upstairs with the Czech FA.
Al Ahli have already signed two Brazilian strikers, Grafite from Wolfsburg and Jaja from Trabzonspor. Hasek's first job will be to decide the fate of two remaining foreigners in the side — Fabio Cannavaro and Pinga.
