Sierra hopes to script new chapter with Shabab Al Ahli
dubai — Former Chilean international Jose Luis Sierra hopes to turn the page and script his own chapter after being unveiled as the new Shabab Al Ahli coach on Sunday.
Sierra, who led Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad to the King’s Cup last season and the Saudi Crown Prince Cup last year, joins the Al Quasis club on an undisclosed contract.
Sierra said that comparisons will obviously be made with the successful Romanian tactician Cosmin Olaroiu, who guided Al Ahli to two Arabian Gulf Leagues, three Arabian Gulf Super Cups, two Arabian Gulf Cups and a runner-up finish in the AFC Champions League in 2015, but said that the rebranded club will see a new chapter being written under him.
“I’m very happy to be here in the UAE, especially in Dubai. I have many ideas about this team. I know this is a big club. It will be a new challenge for me,” the 49-year-old said at the club’s Rashid Stadium on Sunday.
“Anything Shabab Al Ahli will now deliver or achieve, I know I will be compared to the accomplishments and levels of Cosmin,” he said.
“When a coach takes over a team, he tries to accomplish his own story with that team rather than just being compared to all the other previous coaches. That was a different success story. It is now my chance to write a new success story,” added Sierra, capped 53 times by Chile and who took part in the 1998 World Cup.
Meanwhile, club official Khalid Bu Humaid said that the club will forge a new identity under Sierra, who also coached Chilean clubs Union Espanola and Colo-Colo to the Campeonato Nacional.
The squad are set to embark on a pre-season training camp to Spain from July 16 to August 11. Shabab Al Ahli, who parted ways with Olaroiu midway through the season, finished fifth under former UAE coach Mahdi Ali last season.