Dubai: Cesare Prandelli says he wants to stay at Al Nasr for the long term after his last two coaching roles ended in the blink of an eye.
Since resigning as Italy coach after the Azzuri were knocked out in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup, the 60-year-old Italian spent just 16 games in charge of Turkey’s Galatasaray in 2014, and 10 overseeing Spain’s Valencia in 2016.
These were the only two foreign assignments in his CV after an illustrious managerial career at home in Italy where he famously transformed Fiorentina from relegation fodder into Champions League qualifiers, winning the Serie A Coach of the Year for his efforts in 2007-08.
That ultimately got him the nod for Italy’s top job — replacing Marcello Lippi after the 2010 World Cup, and he went on to finish second at Euro 2012 and third at the Confederations Cup in 2013 before falling short in Brazil.
Now, he’s looking to rebuild his career and prove that he can indeed find success outside of Italy. “After my previous experiences I’m very much motivated,” he said at a press conference at Al Nasr on Thursday to discuss Saturday’s season-opener at home to Ajman in the Arabian Gulf Cup from 8.30pm.
The match will be played at Al Wasl’s Zabeel Stadium because of renovation work at Al Nasr.
“Here there is a very serious long-term project and we want to grow with the club. We want to better the final position from last year,” he said of the club’s sixth-place finish under Romanian coach Dan Petrescu, who also lost the final of the President’s Cup against Al Wahda.
“And we are thinking about the future, because we are in a country thinking about the future, and we want to do the same,” he added.
“Since the beginning, I’ve had a very positive vibe and there has been lots of curiosity and there still is. Curiosity is the way to improve and get better.
“The first thing I’ve noticed here is that no one wants to lose. They have very strong character and personality.”
If the former Juventus midfielder, who won the 1985 European Cup as a player, is to succeed, he will need to follow in the footsteps of former Al Nasr coach Ivan Jovanovic, who, before Petrescu’s seven-month reign, pulled off a major breakthrough from 2013-2016.
The Serbian ended a 25-year-wait for silverware at the club with three cup titles in as many years and got them out of the group stages of the Asian Champions League for the first time in their history.
“I’m very curious to see at what point we are now and how ready we are,” added Prandelli, who will now be expected to excel in both the league as well as cup competitions.
“For sure, we will play every game to win especially in the cups because I understand the club’s recent history and how important the cup competitions are to them.
“Every competition is important because a win in the cup could qualify us directly into the Asian Champions League, so it’s very important for us, every game.”
Arabian Gulf Cup
(Opening round)
Friday
Al Wasl vs Dibba, 5.40pm
Al Dhafra vs Al Jazira, 5.50pm
Al Wahda vs Shabab Ahli Dubai, 8.30pm
Saturday
Sharjah vs Emirates, 5.40pm
Al Nasr vs Ajman, 8.30pm
Results
September 4
Al Ain 2 Hatta 2
