Baniyas confirm Copa Libertadores finalist Pablo Repetto as their new manager

The Abu Dhabi club struck a deal with the Uruguayan, believed to be two years with an option for another season, which will be finalised once he arrives in the capital on Saturday, reports John McAuley.

Pablo Repetto, 42, managed Ecuador’s Independiente del Valle to this month's Copa Libertadores final, although they were defeated 1-0 by Colombia’s Nacional in the second leg on Thursday morning. They therefore missed out on the coveted trophy 2-1 on aggregate. Raul Arboleda / AFP
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Baniyas have confirmed Pablo Repetto, the man who guided Ecuador's Independiente del Valle to this month's Copa Libertadores final, as their new manager.

The Abu Dhabi club struck a deal with the Uruguayan, believed to be two years with an option for another season should the move prove successful, which will be finalised once he arrives in the capital on Saturday. A tentative agreement has been in place for the past few weeks.

Repetto, 42, excelled this year in charge of Independiente, where the modest Ecuadorians defeated Argentine giants River Plate and Boca Juniors en route to the Copa Libertadores final. However, on Thursday morning they were eventually defeated 1-0 by Colombia’s Nacional in the second leg of the showpiece, losing 2-1 on aggregate.

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At Baniyas, Repetto succeeds Abdullah Misfir, who departed the club following their ninth-place finish in last season's Arabian Gulf League.

Repetto began his managerial career in 2006 with Fenix in Uruguay and has since coached Cerro and Defensor in his homeland, while also spending a brief spell at Blooming in Bolivia. He will sign off on his new contract with Baniyas on Saturday before leaving with the team for their three-week training camp in Holland.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Diaky has signed a new one-year contract with Al Ain despite appearing poised for a return to former club Al Jazira.

The Ivory Coast-born midfielder, 34, was released by the Garden City side this month and had spent the past week training with Jazira at their pre-season camp in Holland.

However, Al Ain offered Diaky the option of another season, to which he agreed, and he departed Holland late Wednesday to join up with the 12-time UAE champions at their base in Austria on Thursday.

“The club management reached an agreement with Diaky to extend his contract, which expired at the end of last season, and the player showed a desire to continue his career with Al Ain,” said Matar Al Sahbani, the Al Ain team manager, in a statement. “Coach Zlatko [Dalic] always praises Diaky’s character and his professionalism and he will add his value and experience to the team.”

Al Ain view Diaky’s know-how as crucial to an extremely important season ahead, with the club soon to contest the Asian Champions League quarter-finals against Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv. Diaky, who joined the club from Jazira in 2013, featured 35 times in all during the 2015/16 campaign, scoring seven times.

jmcauley@thenational.ae

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