Van Marwijk, new coach of the United Arab Emirates, targets only the 2022 World Cup

ABU DHABI: The Dutch coach, Bert van Marwijk, said that the only goal of his time at the helm of the team would be to involve the United Arab Emirates in the final phase of the World Cup for the second time only in 2022.

The former coach of the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Australia, aged 66, was unveiled Thursday to succeed the Italian Alberto Zaccheroni.

"I'm only here for one thing and that's to qualify for the World Cup," he told reporters in Abu Dhabi after signing a three-year contract with an option of two. years.

"It takes a lot of time and the first thing we have to face is the first qualifying round and that's why I'm here."

Van Marwijk was in the stands later on Thursday when the United Arab Emirates defeated his former team, Saudi Arabia, 2-1 in a friendly match. It was the fifth time that he had seen the two teams face each other in the last four years, but the first one was not as a coach of the Green Falcons. .

"I am looking forward to having this job," he said. "I know the Emirates, I know the team because with the Saudis, we played four times against each other, so I also know the highlights.

"I've heard that there were young talents, so I'm eager to know how good they are."

The main of these talents is the playmaker and former Asian player of the year, Omar Abdulrahman, who missed the UAE surprise race in the Asian Cup semifinal in January due to # 39, an injury.

They were beaten by neighbors and possible Qatar champions in this semifinal. Zaccheroni left immediately after the match.

Van Marwijk brought the Dutch to the World Cup final in 2010, but more importantly for the Emirati, also led Saudi Arabia to qualify for the final of last year, its first trip to the flagship football event since 2006.

The former director of Feyenoord, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg SV was however released by the Saudis before the final, after a series of general conditions. He eventually led Australia to a first-round exit in Russia.

The UAE did qualify for the World Cup finals only in 1990, but could hold some matches of the 2022 tournament if a political and economic conflict with Qatar is healed and FIFA decides to go ahead. organize a tournament with 48 teams.

Part of his quarrel with the Saudis before the last World Cup was their insistence on living in the country, which he was not ready to engage again with the UAE.

"I was also the coach of the Netherlands and I will do exactly the same as there," said Van Marwijk.

"I'll be there when we need me."

The Asian qualifications for the 2022 World Cup start in September.

(Report by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, edited by Greg Stutchbury)