Al Wahda tempt Henk ten Cate out of retirement to coach Clarets
dubai — Al Wahda have convinced former Al Jazira coach Henk ten Cate out of retirement to be their new manager, the Abu Dhabi club confirmed on social media.
The Dutchman, who turned 64 on Sunday, will take over the reins next week following the axing of Romanian Laurentiu Reghecampf. “Al Wahda Club officially contracts with the Dutch coach Henk ten Cate to take over the first team training tasks next week,” The Clarets announced on their official twitter handle Henk ten Cate, who was formerly assistant coach at FC Barcelona from 2003 to 2006 and Chelsea for a season, apart from Ajax as head coach, is a man known to have the midas touch, turning around a below par Al Jazira side to a team to beat.
His two seasons with the Pride of Abu Dhabi saw Al Jazira lift the prestigious President’s Cup in 2016 as well as a second Arabian Gulf League title in the 2016-2017 season. Ten Cate is well-known for his work with youngsters and infusing young blood into the side. And under him, Al Jazira punched more than above their weight against Real Madrid, running the 13-time European champions close before eventually going down 2-1 in the semifinal of the FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi last season.
Ten Cate had announced his retirement from football management in May this year but had hinted that you can never say never. And his love and passion for football has seen him return following a seven-month sabbatical.
His appointment is perhaps what Al Wahda need following a poor run of results this season after a successful campaign last time out when The Clarets finished runnersup to Al Ain. Reghecampf, who had joined Al Wahda last July and had replaced Mexican Javier Aguirre, guided The Clarets to two Arabian Gulf Super Cups, the Arabian Gulf Cup and to a second-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League. The new season had held the promise of them going one better but a string of average results where Al Wahda won only one in seven matches, forced the hand of the club management at the end of November.
The club sacked the 43-year-old following Al Wahda’s 2-1 defeat to Al Jazira in the Abu Dhabi Derby.
Al Wahda are fifth in the Arabian Gulf League, with five wins, three draws and four losses in 12 fixtures.