Sharjah have chosen the Romanian Valeriu Tita, formerly the coach of the Syrian national team, to lead the Pro League side following the resignation earlier this week of the manager Carlos Azenho.
Tita, 45, watched Sharjah's 1-1 home draw with Al Nasr in the Etisalat Cup last night and will take control of the team beginning today, team officials said.
Sharjah is Tita's fourth coaching post in 2011. He led Syria to a third-place finish in group play at the Asian Cup in January and briefly coached the Syrian club Al Shorta and the Kuwaiti side Al Nasr before joining Sharjah.
He previously coached the Syrian club Al Ittihad on two occasions, leading them to the AFC Cup championship last year.
Tita played as a midfielder for his hometown club, FC Drobeta in Turnu Severin before moving in 1993 to the Morocco club Olympique de Casablanca.
Azenha and Sharjah parted ways early this week after the Portuguese expressed a desire to be with his wife, who has been diagnosed with cancer, in their home country.
The Brazilian midfielder Edinho, one of Sharjah's close-season acquisitions, scored in the 81st minute to help the home side salvage a draw in a Group B opener.
Edinho struck the ball from just inside the area, converting a cross from his compatriot Marcelo Oliveira.
Carlos Tenorio, the Brazilian striker, had given Nasr a lead in the 15th minute with an inventive goal, popping the ball over a defender's head and then poking it past the goalkeeper.
Also last night, Dubai defeated Emirates2-1 in Ras Al Khaimah, vaulting the visitors into a share of the Group A lead with Al Jazira who beat Al Wasl, 4-3, in a thriller on Thursday night.
Emirates were expected to play with their reserve side. The first team remains in training in Tunisia, according to the league.
