Mahdi Ali signs three-year contract extension

Dubai: UAE football coach Mahdi Ali on Wednesday signed a three-year contract extension that will take his tenure up until the 2018 Fifa World Cup, according to the UAE Football Association (UAE FA).

The 49-year-old Emirati’s contract renewal had been delayed because the UAE FA were reluctant to make a long-term commitment ahead of April 2016 board elections in case the next board wanted to bring in their own coach.

But Ali’s success in leading the UAE to third place in last month’s Asian Cup in Australia has restored confidence and the tactician has now been tasked with leading the team to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Ali, whose contract was due to expire this July, signed an initial three-year contract in 2012 after leading the Under-23 squad to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

In 43 games, Ali has won 26, lost eight and drawn nine, giving him a 60 per cent win ratio. Within that time he won the 2013 Gulf Cup, finished third in the 2014 edition and third in the 2015 Asian Cup. He also led the team to a record run of 21 games unbeaten from September 2012 to May 2014.