Shockwaves were sent throughout the Arabian Gulf League late on Saturday night as era-defining Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club coach Cosmin Olaroiu departed by mutual consent after a sorry series of draws, ex-UAE boss Mahdi Ali being named as his replacement.

Olaroiu, 48, reached the end of the road in the wake of a seventh-successive stalemate in all competitions being recorded on Friday at home to lowly Al Dhafra in the top flight.

This continued the teething problems at the merged outfit, from which the Romanian previously led – the now defunct – Al Ahli to historic defeat in the 2015 AFC Champions League final and swept up seven trophies after being controversially poached from Al Ain in 2013.

Ex-Ahli midfielder and coach Ali, 52, returns to work after he quit the Whites in March after five transformational years.