Al Ain sign up Walter Zenga as coach

Dubai: Al Ain Club have signed a two-year contract with former Italian goalkeeper Walter Zenga to become their senior football team coach, replacing Romanian Anghel Iordanescu and caretaker coach Dutch Tini Riujis.

Al Ain, the AFC Champions League winner in 2003 and winner of the UAE League for a record nine times, are struggling in the current season. They are second from bottom with six points from nine matches.

Zinga expressed his happiness to be in Al Ain. "I am glad to be here after a long journey during which I coached in Romania, Serbia, the US and Turkey. I had visited Al Ain some six months back, but we didn't reach an agreement at that time," Zenga said in a press conference held at the Al Ain club.

"I know that Al Ain's senior football team are passing through a crisis in the first division league. I accept the challenge and will spare no efforts to take Al Ain back to at the top."

Asked about what has been ailing the team, Zenga said: "I do not want to speak about what happened in the last few months. First, we have to diagnose the problem and then find the solutions. However, after watching some matches, I can say with some conviction that there are some talented players in Al Ain."