Quinteros takes over at Al Wasl
AL WASL COACH HIGHLIGHTS CLUB’S LIKING FOR ARGENTINES
Al Wasl’s boardroom have pledged to explore all means possible to ensure success next season, according to new coach Gustavo Quinteros, who says he has all the tools necessary to do a perfect job at Zabeel Stadium.
Former coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena, who wasn’t offered a contract extension at the end of this season, which wrapped up earlier this month, had continually bemoaned the lack of players to sustain their title charge, which saw them finish third in the league and runners-up in both cup competitions.
Now though, it seems Quinteros, who was appointed last week, will be given more support to go one better next season. “The president and officials welcomed me well and pledged every means to create success in the new season,” he told Arabic media.
“They were very close to winning titles and our main goal in the next phase is to improve all aspects of performance to increase our chances of winning one of these cups next season. Al Wasl is a big club with good potential and can provide me with all the tools necessary to do my job perfectly,” he added.
After Arruabarrena and his predecessor Gabriel Calderon, Quinteros is the third consecutive Argentine to coach Al Wasl since 2014 and the fifth in seven years if you count Diego Maradona (2011/12) and Hector Cuper (2013/14).
“The Argentine training culture is rooted in the club because there have been quite a few Argentine coaches managing the team in the last few seasons, which will make my presence here familiar to some,” said Quinteros, who despite being born in Argentina, represented Bolivia as a defender at the 1994 World Cup.
The 53-year-old former Bolivia and Ecuador coach was last in charge of Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr last season guiding them to a third-place finish in the league. “I am confident that my experience gained with Al Nassr will help me a lot in accomplishing my next task with Al Wasl, and it will save a lot of time in adapting to new players and methods.”
Foreign brigade
Ecuadorean defender Dario Aimar of Ecuador’s Barcelona and Brazilian midfielder Bismark Ferreira of Saudi Arabia’s Al Qadisiyah have been identified as possible replacements for Australian midfielder Anthony Caceres and Brazilian midfielder Ronaldo Mendes. Brazilian forwards Caio Canedo and Fabio Lima are expected to stay, despite Canedo posting an angry message on social media in dismay at Al Wasl’s decision not to renew Arruabarrena’s contract.