Dubai After much speculation, coach Ivan Hasek has resigned as chairman of the Czech Football Association and pledged his re-allegiance to Al Ahli Club where he won the league back in 2009.
CeskeNoviny.cz confirmed Hasek, aged 47, had announced his resignation on Sunday at the end of the Czech Football Association's annual general meeting in Prague. The Czech News Agency reported footballer-turned-lawyer Hasek, had said he had succeeded in economically stabilizing Czech soccer 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, UAE.
"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."
Reaction
In reaction to the resignation the Czech Football Association called an extraordinary general meeting within three months to elect Hasek's successor.
The interim committee of Dalibor Kucera, Jindrich Rajchl and Dusan Svoboda expressed their regret at Hasek's departure.
Meanwhile at Al Ahli Club no-one has been made available to confirm Hasek's re-joining. However sources close to the club have said Hasek will arrive in Dubai to take up duties at the club as of July 7.
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.
Grafite
Hasek, who played 54 times for the former Czechoslovakia with five goals only played once for the Czech Republic after the nation's political split 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 has already signed two Brazilian strikers Grafite from Germany's Wolfsburg and Jaja from Turkey's Trabzonspor. Hasek's first job will be to decide the fate of two remaining foreigners in the side Fabio Cannavaro and Pinga.
A three foreign player allowance dictates only one can stay, or should Hasek bring in a signing of his own both will be out the door. Cannavaro meanwhile has been linked with recent English Premier League promoted club Queens Park Rangers.
