The new Arabian Gulf League season begins this week and here Sport360 has compiled the ultimate guide to each team including predictions, vital statistics and key transfer news.
AL AHLI
Stadium: Rashid Stadium
Coach: Cosmin Olaroiu Last season: 7th
Key ins: Hassan Abdulrahman (Dubai SC), Mohammed Al Khoori (Al Dhafra), Lima (Benfica)
Star man: Everton Ribeiro
One to watch: Saeed Jassim
Verdict: Expect a Red Knights fightback. A chronic lack of goals undermined their title defence, but Lima will fire them up.
AL AIN
Stadium: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium
Coach: Zlatko Dalic
Last season: Champions
Key ins: Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce), Fellipe Bastos (Vasco Da Gama), Ryan Babel (Kasimpasa)
Star man: Omar Abdulrahman
One to watch: Ahmed Barman
Verdict: Loss of Asamoah Gyan appears to have been weathered. Still, just about, the team to beat.
BANI YAS
Stadium: Bani Yas Stadium
Coach: Luis Garcia
Last season: 8th
Key ins: Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory), Thamer Mohammed (Al Wasl), Joaquin Larrivey (Celta Vigo), Ishak Belfodil (Parma)
Star man: Amer Abdulrahman
One to watch: Bandar Al Ahbabi
Verdict: Garcia must deliver after underwhelming first season. Excellent buys will help.
AL DHAFRA
Stadium: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Stadium
Coach: Laurent Banide
Last season: 11th Key ins: Jorge Luna (Santiago Wanderers), Ahmad Ibrahim (Ajman), David Barral (Levante), Ahmed Ali (Bani Yas)
Star man: Makhete Diop
One to watch: Abdulrahman Yousef
Verdict: The Western Knights will be much improved in 2015/16.
DIBBA AL FUJAIRAH
Stadium: Fujairah Stadium
Coach: Theo Bucker
Last season: Champions, UAE Division 1 Group A
Key ins: Bilal Najjarine (Al Dhafra), Elias Luiz (Al Fateh), Mohammed Qassim (Al Dhafra), Boris Kabi (Ajman), Bakary Kone (Wydad Casablanca)
Star man: Boris Kabi
One to watch: Bakary Kone
Verdict: Have given themselves a fighting chance of survival. Form of lethal Kabi will be vital.
EMIRATES CLUB
Stadium: Emirates Club Stadium
Coach: Paulo Comelli
Last season: 10th
Key ins: Brett Holman (Al Nasr), Helal Saeed (Al Nasr), Essa Abdulla (Al Wahda), Rodrigo Pimpao (Botafgo)
Star man: Brett Holman
One to watch: Alhasan Saleh
Verdict: Holman is a great buy, but will he be enough alone to fend off relegation? The Hawks could drop unless they better last term’s 34- goal tally. Will need both newly-promoted clubs to suffer.
FUJAIRAH
Stadium: Fujairah Stadium
Coach: Ivan Hasek
Last season: 9th
Key ins: Christophe Mandanne (Guingamp), Patrick Friday Eze (Mladost Lucani), Mubarak Hassan (Ajman), Saoud Saeed (Al Nasr)
Star man: Hassan Maatouk
One to watch: Patrick Friday Eze
Verdict: The Wolves enjoyed a solid top-flight return last term. Expect striker Eze to fire them further up the standings. Could be season’s surprise package.
AL JAZIRA
Stadium: Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium
Coach: Abel Braga
Last season: 2nd
Key ins: Thiago Neves (Al Hilal), Park Jong-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Jefferson Farfan (Schalke 04), Fares Juma (Al Ain)
Star man: Ali Mabkhout
One to watch: Khalfan Mubarak
Verdict: The Pride of Abu Dhabi look fearsome. Returning boss Braga won it all in previous stint. Superb new signings should address defensive issues. Real contenders for a first title since 2011, also under the Brazilian.
AL NASR
Stadium: Al Maktoum Stadium
Coach: Ivan Jovanovic
Last season: 5th
Key ins: Luis Jimenez (Al Ahli), Salem Saleh (Al Wahda), Khalid Jalal (Al Wahda), Nilmar (Internacional), Jonathan Pitroipa (Al Jazira)
Star man: Nilmar
One to watch: Rashed Mohammed Omar
Verdict: The first XI looks much stronger, but question marks remains about squad depth. This could stop a double cup win from turning into title joy.
AL WASL
Stadium: Zabeel Stadium
Coach: Gabriel Calderon
Last season: 6th
Key ins: Caio Canedo (Internacional), Edgar Bruno (Al Shabab), Hazza Salem (Al Ain), Hassan Ameen (Al Jazira)
Star man: Fabio De Lima
One to watch: Ali Al Balushi
Verdict: A full season under boss Calderon will continue their excellent progress. Expect a steady AGL campaign and deep cup runs.
AL WAHDA
Stadium: Al Nahyan Stadium
Coach: Javier Aguirre
Last season: 4th
Key ins: Denilson (Sao Paulo), Jorge Valdivia (Palmeiras), Mohammed Salem (Al Ain)
Star man: Jorge Valdivia
One to watch: Mohamed Al Akbari
Verdict: There is rightly huge excitement about the Clarets. Could crash the AGL title race.
SHARJAH
Stadium: Sharjah Stadium
Coach: Paulo Bonamigo
Last season: 12th
Key ins: Renato Caja (Ponte Preta), Maicosuel (Atletico Mineiro), Waleed Ahmed (Ajman), Hamdan Qassim (Al Shabab)
Star man: Wanderley
One to watch: Yousif Saeed
Verdict: Last season’s struggles were a shock for the King, but they might not be isolated.
AL SHABAB
Stadium: Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium
Coach: Caio Junior Last season: 3rd
Key ins: Jo (Atletico Mineiro), Khalifa Abdulla (Al Wasl), Khalifa bin Lahej (Al Wasl), Maher Jassim (Al Wasl)
Star man: Carlos Villanueva
One to watch: Rashid Hassan
Verdict: Can the Hawks punch above their weight again? Much rests on the displays of Jo.
AL SHAAB
Stadium: Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium
Coach: Tarek El Ashry
Last season: 2nd, UAE Division 1 Group A
Key ins: Celios Santos (Tractor Sazi), Matias Donoso (Cobresal), Fahad Obeid (Al Nasr), Amr Al Sulaya (Ismaily)
Star man: Michael N’dri
One to watch: Amr Al Sulaya
Verdict: Al Sulaya should be a star, yet Shaab look too weak.