With the 2015/16 Arabian Gulf League just wrapped, John McAuley looks at five questions to come from Sunday's final round.
Will Cosmin Olaroiu remain at Al Alhi?
Chairman Abdullah Al Naboodah said so in the aftermath of Al Ahli's championship coronation against Al Shaab on Sunday, stating that he is "absolutely" confident coach Olaroiu will be in charge of the team next season. Remember, Ahli could yet conclude the campaign with the President's Cup trophy, and next year also have another shot at the Asian Champions League to look forward to, so in theory all should be well at the Rashid Stadium. However, there remain rumblings that Olaroiu is seeking to leave, fuelled by problems between him and a senior figure at the club, although at this point doubts about his future constitute nothing more than speculation. When all is said and done, the hugely successful Romanian remains the right man to take Ahli forward.
How will Al Ain bounce back?
Al Ain's title defence ended in disappointment, when for so much of the season the champions seemed poised for top-flight trophy No 13. Yet it proved unlucky for them, eventually overtaken and pipped to the post by rivals Ahli. What Al Ain do next will determine whether they can reclaim top spot next season. There are rumours regarding coach Zlatko Dalic, whose contract expires this summer, and suggestions that the club board will be overhauled, so those situations need clarifying before any attempt is made to improve the squad. That is certainly required, with doubts about Fellipe Bastos, Danilo Asprilla and Douglas possessing the requisite talent to hoist Al Ain back to the summit. After a year of relative frugality, Ain need to make a real statement in the transfer market.
Can Fred Rutten improve Al Shabab?
Immediately after Al Shabab brought down the curtain on their season with a 1-0 victory at home to Al Wasl, a new era began at the club with Fred Rutten presented to the media as Caio Junior's successor. The Dutchman's appointment represents a significant change of approach at Shabab, who for the past seven years have retained a distinctly Brazilian flavour. Coaches Paulo Bonamigo, Marcos Paqueta and Junior led the team, each exceeding expectations at what remains a modest club with a penchant for defying the odds. Rutten will have to match his predecessors' performance and most probably better it, at the same time altering Shabab's identity while getting to grips with a totally new league and environment. Of Shabab's foreign contingent, only Henrique Luvannor is guaranteed to stay. It will be interesting to see how quickly Rutten can stamp his mark.
Could Ali Mabkhout coax a European bid?
The winner for Al Jazira against Al Dhafra on Sunday was not enough to usurp Al Wahda's Sebastian Tagliabue in the race for the Golden Boot, but Mabkhout's achievement in finishing second in the scoring charts is no less commendable. The UAE forward struck 23 times in the league this season, the most by any Emirati in the professional era, a feat made all the more remarkable considering Jazira's woeful campaign – and that Mabkhout once went seven matches without finding the net. Last year's Asian Cup display prompted much talked of a transfer to Europe, and there was serious interest from England and Germany last summer, so perhaps this could be the time to fulfill what Mabkhout has long labelled his dream. Should a fresh offer come, convincing Jazira to release him is another matter, though.
Which relegated foreigner appeals most?
Al Shaab’s fate was sealed long ago, but Fujairah’s confirmation came Sunday, when they lost at Al Nasr to finish in the final relegation spot. Their season was considerably better than Shaab’s, although with both clubs down, there will undoubtedly be substantial upheaval among the respective squads. Top-flight sides may look elsewhere, but Patrick Eze in particular has done enough to warrant interest. The Nigerian striker scored 14 goals in his debut season at Fujairah, a powerful and direct frontman who could fill a hole at a number of AGL clubs. Al Shabab, for instance, need someone to lead the line, as do Al Nasr and Al Wasl. Yet those teams might prefer to aim higher, especially since recruiting a relegated player would not sit well with supporters. Already proven at this level, they could do worse than Eze.
