Manuel Cajuda has been dismissed as the coach of Sharjah only three matches shy of putting in two full seasons with the Pro League side, a club executive confirmed today.
Sharjah had not won in their past five league games, taking only two points from a possible 15. They lost 3-2 to struggling Al Ahli on Friday and on the previous Sunday they had been crushed 6-1 at Al Wahda. They lie eighth in the table after finishing sixth a year ago.
Cajuda is the 13th Pro League coach to be dismissed during the current season, and his interim replacement, the Emirati Abdul Majid, the former coach of the recently promoted Second Division side Armed Forces, becomes the 47th man to coach in the league since it went fully professional in the 2008/09 season.
Cajuda, 59, compiled a record of 13 wins, 12 draws and 16 defeats in his nearly two years with Sharjah. The 59-year-old Portguese had earlier coached at Zamalek of Cairo and FC Braga in his home country.
Sharjah have a rich history: they lead all UAE sides with eight President's Cup trophies and have won the league five times. However, their last trophy was a President's Cup in 2003 and their most recent league championship was won in 1996.
Abel Braga, of champions Al Jazira, and Paulo Bonamigo, of Al Shabab, are the only current coaches in the league who began the season with their current teams.
poberjuerge@thenational.ae
