AJMAN
Nickname: The Orange Brigade
Manager: Abdulalwab Abdulqader
The diminutive Iraqi tactician is wellversed with UAE football and had newlypromoted Ajman challenging for a top-five finish until the very end of last season. Abdulqader likes his men playing attacking football and Ajman do take the game to their opponents.
Star man: Founeke Sy
The Malian finished as the second highest scorer in the Iranian League last season and if Ajman are hoping to go places they will be relying heavily on him to find that sort of form here.
Key ins: Founeke Sy (Sanat Naft), Karrar Jassim (Shahin Bushehr)
Key outs: Hassan Maatouk (Emirates)
Expectation: Another top half finish is what they’ll be aiming for.
Reality: Must aim for 6th at least as they look to build on their achievements last season. They do appear to have the means to achieve that goal.
AL AIN
Stadium: Tahnoun Bin Mohammed Stadium
Nickname: The Boss
Position last season: Champions
Manager: Cosmin Olaroiu
A serious tactician whose players gladly run through brick walls for him.
Star man: Asamoah Gyan
Mirel Radoi makes the side tick but the Ghanaian’s goals win them games. Will shoulder the attacking burden once again this season.
Key ins: Mohammed Ahmed Gharib (Al Shabab), Jires Kembo Ekoko (Rennes)
Key outs: Ignacio Scocco (Newell’s Old Boys), Yasser Al Qahtani (Al Hilal, loan return)
Expectation: Having won their 10th title they want to keep it, while mounting a serious bid for 2013 AFC Champions League glory too. Reality: Following their title success spirits were high and only enhanced by Omar Abdulrahman’s performances in Britain. Their transfer business has dragged on but they still possess the best squad in the league.
AL AHLI
Stadium: Rashid Stadium
Nickname: The Red Knights
Position last season: 5th
Manager: Quique Sanchez Flores
Teamwork comes first for Quique, who has made it clear places cannot be taken for granted in his side. He likes possession football, but Ahli are as capable a side to launch counters as well.
Star man: Grafite
The former Wolfsburg man was the secondhighest goalscorer last season and netted 29 times in 33 appearances for the club.
Key ins: Achille Emana (Al Hilal, permanent deal), Abdulaziz Sanqour (Sharjah)
Key outs: Mohammed Qasim (Dhafra)
Expectation: Ahli will be looking to break into the top three and thus secure an automatic AFC Champions League spot.
Reality: Quique wanted fifth last season and found the means to get it and with a team whose core has largely remained intact he should aim higher. Third place would be a realistic goal for the Red Knights.
AL DHAFRA
Stadium: Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nayhan
Nickname: Dhafra
Position last season: 4th (Division One, promoted)
Manager: Dzemal Hadziabdic
Well-travelled former has studied Brendan Rodgers Martinez but adopts a approach himself.
Star man: Amara Diane The Ivory Coast forward’s guile will be crucial as he attempts to act as a foil to lanky goal-machine Makhete Diop. Gives the side a dash of real quality.
Key ins: Amara Diane (Al Nasr), Mohammed Qasim (Al Ahli), Abdulsalam and Abdulraheem Jumaa (both Al Jazira)
Key outs: Tawfeeq, Abdullah Al Noobi (both Al Wahda)
Expectation: Happy to back in the big time time for now but they have a three-year plan to be successful.
Reality: With little over a week to prepare they face a baptism of fire against Ajman, but they do possess a goal threat and can stay up.
AL JAZIRA
Stadium: Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium
Nickname: The Pride of Abu Dhabi
Position last season: 4th
Manager: Paulo Bonamigo
Constructed a hard-working, attacking side at Shabab and is hoping to restore Jazira’s pride.
Star man: Ricardo Oliveira
Provides an injection of pace in the final third and plenty of goals, but will need help from Matias Delgado and Fernandinho in particular if Jazira are going to reclaim their title.
Key ins: Fernandinho (Sao Paulo), Shin Hyung-Min (Pohang Steelers)
Key outs: Bare (Al Arabi, loan), Lucas Neill (Al Wasl), Khaled Al Sinani, Abdulsalam and Abdulraheem Jumaa (all Al Dhafra)
Expectation: Defensive frailties cost them dear last season and they want the title they worked so hard for back.
Reality: Neill and other defenders have left without a replacement coming in. A lot will depend on how Shin adapts to his new life at the back.
AL NASR
Stadium: Al Maktoum Stadium
Nickname: The Blue Wave
Position last season: 2nd
Manager: Walter Zenga
The eccentric Italian’s temperament caused him a few embarrassments last season, but his coaching pedigree is all the same matchless. Nasr owe their transformation to him more than anyone else.
Star man: Bruno Cesar Correa
Having arrived from the highly competitive Iranian League, much will be expected of the Brazilian striker in the comparatively lesser Pro League.
Key ins: Giuseppe Mascara (Novara), Bruno Cesar Correa (Sepahan), Hassan Mohammed (Dubai)
Key outs: Mark Bresciano (Al Gharafa), Amara Diane (Al Dhafra)
Expectation: Third two seasons ago, second last year, Nasr will be aiming for nothing less than victory this season!
Reality: Do they have a side that can go all the way? Yes they do. But much will depend on what champions Al Ain hope to achieve in 2012/13.
AL SHAAB
Stadium: Khalid Bin Mohammed
Nickname: Commandos
Position last season: 3rd (Division One, promoted)
Manager: Sergio Alexandre
The Brazilian proved an astute tactician in engineering the side’s promotion via the play-offs.
Star man: Rodrigo Vergilio
The former Al Nasr striker sealed Shaab’s promotion with a stellar display against Dhafra last Friday and you feel his goals will go a long way to deciding the Sharjah club’s fate this season.
Key ins: Rodrigo Vergilio (Al Nasr), Juma Sanqoor (Ittihad Kalba), Michael N’Dri (Sailiya SC)
Key outs: Lorinko (Al Oruba), Abdulla Eisa (Al Shabab)
Expectation: Back in the Pro League after a three-year absence, they just want to stay there.
Reality: Early momentum could be key to their survival hopes as well as squad reinforcements.
AL SHABAB
Stadium: Maktoum bin Rashid Stadium
Nickname: The Hawks
Position last season: 3rd
Manager: Marcos Paqueta
Like most Brazilian gaffers Paqueta likes his football to speak for itself and Shabab have responded well with a brand of football that is both attractive and effective.
Star man: Jociel
The Mohawk sporting Brazilian winger has always been a threat because of his ability to play either of the flanks. His pace, dribbling skills and assists make him a pleasure to watch.
Key ins: Luiz da Silva Alves (Jeonbuk Motors), Edgar Bruno da Silva (Vitoria Guimaraes)
Key outs: Ahmed Gharib (Al Ain)
Expectation: With the AFC Champions League to distract them once again, Shabab could be targeting a top five finish in the Pro League. Reality: There’s no reason why the Hawks cannot finish inside the top five. Third place, like the last time, however, appears difficult.
AL WAHDA
Stadium: Al Nahyan Stadium
Nickname: Wahda
Position last season: 6th
Manager: Branko Ivankovic
Replaces the affable Josef Hickersberger and has enjoyed success in Europe, China and Saudi Arabia.
Star man: Ismail Matar
Proved his class at the London Olympics with two of the UAE’s three goals, and with the departure of so many of the class of ‘10 will be asked to help bring through a new generation.
Key ins: Papa Waigo (Ascoli), Eric Mouloungui (Nice), Srdan Andric (Hajduk Split), Anas Bani Yaseen (Al-Qadsia), Marcelinho (Sharjah) Key outs: Fernando Baiano (released), Magrao (Dubai), Hugo (Sport Recife), Motaz Abdulla, Omar Ali, Haider Ali (all Emirates)
Expectation: The board wanted a fresh start this season in order to kickstart a renaissance on the pitch.
Reality: Wahda have lost a lot of experience and bar their foreign signings, their squad looks paper thin.
AL WASL
Stadium: Zabeel Stadium
Nickname: Cheetahs / Yellow Emperor
Position last season: 8th
Manager: Bruno Metsu
The Frenchman prefers an attacking style with drills focusing on moving the ball around the park.
Star man: Emiliano Alfaro
On loan from Lazio, much will be expected of the Uruguay international striker when he begins life in the UAE, especially after a goalscoring debut in the Etisalat Cup.
Key ins: Lucas Neill (Jazira), Emiliano Alfaro (Lazio, loan), Shikabala (Zamalek)
Key outs: Juan Manuel Olivera (Penarol), Juan Mercier (San Lorenzo), Mohammed Reza Khalatbari (loan return)
Expectation: There appears a genuine push for change at the Zabeel and the Cheetahs will be looking to finish among the top four at least. Reality: Fourth: With the quality available the Cheetahs should hunt down fourth easily if Metsu is able to keep a happy ship at the Zabeel that is.
BANI YAS
Stadium: Bani Yas Stadium
Nickname: The Sky Blues
Position last season: 9th
Manager: Jozef Chovanec
The former Sparta Prague boss has displayed a ruthless streak with the handling of Fawzi Bashir. Not a man to mess with.
Star man: Mohamed Zidan
Was on fire for Mainz at the back end of last season, his partnership with Andre Senghor has the potential to fire the Sky Blues towards top of the table this season.
Key ins: Mohamed Zidan (Mainz), Nick Carle (Sydney FC, loan), Ismail Belmaalem(Raja Casablanca, loan)
Key outs: Francisco Yeste, Ismail Bouzid (both released), Fawzi Bashir (unregistered)
Expectation: Despite an encouraging Champions League debut last season, Bani Yas still crave their first Pro League title.
Reality: With Zidan, Carle, Amer Abdulrahman and Andre Senghor they should at least be easy on the eye and could at least surprise a few at the Bani Yas Stadium.
DIBBA FUJAIRAH
Stadium: Khalifa bin Zayed (Al Ain)
Nickname: Hasnawy
Position last season: 2nd (Division One, promoted)
Manager: Marcelo Cabo
The Brazilian loves a more direct approach and will be keen on Dibba attacking rather than just sitting back and defending.
Star man: Luiz Fernando Correa Sales
Strong in the air and on the ground, Fernando will have to shoulder much of the responsibility up front. How he copes with that burden could shape Dibba’s season.
Key ins: Luiz Fernando Correa Sales (Figueirense), Alexssander Medeiros (Botafogo), Abdul Razak Al Hussain (Erbil FC)
Key outs: None
Expectation: To hold on to their Pro League spot.
Reality: As runners up in Division One, Dibba’s goals will be to stay alive in the Pro League and that’s something they could well achieve considering now that there are two more Division One sides playing alongside them in the top flight.
DUBAI CLUB
Stadium: Dubai Club Stadium
Nickname: None
Position last season: 10th
Manager: Rene Marsiglia
The Frenchman arrives from Nice whose Ligue 1 ambitions he helped keep alive last season.
Star man: Richard Porta
The Australian-Uruguayan failed to hit the ground running under Diego Maradona at Al Wasl, and was shipped out pretty quickly. However he returns to the UAE after a hugely successful stint in Uruguay where he scored 14 times in 11 appearances for Nacional.
Key ins: Richard Porta (Nacional), Magrao (Wahda)
Key outs: Nabil Daoudi (Kalba)
Expectation: The Awir outfit will be hoping to end the season in the top half of the table after flirting with relegation last season and avoiding the drop on the last day.
Reality: Another 10th place finish should be welcomed by Dubai Club, after all the league has increased to 14 teams and that would ensure safety for another year.
ITTIHAD KALBA
Stadium: Al Ittihad Kalba Stadium
Nickname: None
Position last season: 1st (Division One, promoted)
Manager: Dragan Talajic
The Croatian manager’s focus on attacking football is what brought Ittihad Kalba back into the Pro League and there is little doubt he will be looking to keep that strategy.
Star man: Gregory Dufrennes
The Frenchman is easily one of the best players in the UAE and stayed loyal to Ittihad despite relegation last season. Fleet-footed and with a keen eye for goal, is at home doubling up as a playmaker.
Key ins: Sergio Antonio de Carmo, Abdulaziz Ismail (both Ajman), Nabil Daoudi (Dubai)
Key outs: None
Expectation: There’s no doubt that the management would like Ittihad to keep their Pro League spot intact.
Reality: The composition of the squad suggests 9th or 10th place as a realistic goal for the men from Fujairah.
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