Al Ahli’s backroom reshuffle continues with the appointment of former Sporting Lisbon and Besiktas boss Carlos Carvalhal as their new Academy Director.

The Portuguese has penned a two-year deal at the Rashid Stadium and will be tasked with nurturing the club’s youngsters as they look to make the step up into the first-team.

Tha appointment of the 47-year-old follows the controversial arrival of Cosmin Olaroiu as boss last week and is the latest addition to chairman Abdallah Al Naboodah’s ambitious project at the Dubai club.

– Foundations in place for Al Ahli to rule UAE football again

In a recent interview with Sport360° Al Naboodah spoke of his desire to improve the club at all levels,  both on and off the pitch. “As part of my vision, we continue to strive for excellence by our forward-thinking approach,” he said.

Carvalhal arrives in the Emirates with a wealth of managerial experience having managed no fewer than 13 sides in his relatively short career, including two stints at Vitoria Setubal.

It was with Portuguese second division side Leixões where he first made his name, guiding the minnows to the Portuguese Cup final in 2001-02 where they narrowly lost 1-0 to Sporting Lisbon.

Spells with Belenenses, Braga and Beira-Mar then followed before a return to Setubal in 2007, three years on from his first stint in charge at the club. 

A first Portuguese League Cup triumph in the Setubal’s history followed after a memorable campaign that saw Carvalhal mastermind wins over ex-club Braga, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon in the final.

After brief stints in charge of Sporting and Turkish giants Besiktas he now finds himself in the UAE where his role will be to oversee the development of Ahli’s budding young talent.

Carvalhal’s position at Ahli will closely mirror that of Albert Benaiges – the former chief of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy – at Dubai rivals Al Wasl.

Carvalhal is likely to be assisted by two of his compatriots, although their identities remain unknown at this stage.

 

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