Latest news with #Al-Wasl
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Soccer-Portuguese coach Castro joins Al-Wasl for fresh start in UAE
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Riyadh v Al Nassr - Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - May 23, 2024 Al Nassr coach Luis Castro before the match REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo (Reuters) - -Portuguese coach Luis Castro has been given a shot at redemption in Middle Eastern football after former United Arab Emirates champions Al-Wasl appointed him for the upcoming season months after his high-profile exit from Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. Castro, 63, departed the Saudi team in September following a title near-miss. Even with Ronaldo claiming the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot during his tenure, Castro's inability to deliver the championship ultimately cost him his position in Riyadh. "Al-Wasl officially signed the Portuguese coach Luis Castro to lead 'the Emperor' in the upcoming competitions," the Dubai club announced on social media, welcoming him to their Zabeel headquarters. He replaces Serbian Milos Milojevic, who was dismissed after Al-Wasl finished only fourth in the league to miss out on the Asian Champions League Elite. The well-travelled Castro, whose coaching career includes stints at Qatar's Al Duhail, Brazil's Botafogo and Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk, now faces the challenge of elevating Al-Wasl from AFC Champions League Two contenders back to the UAE summit. (Writing by Ashraf Hamed Atta in Cairo; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Portuguese coach Castro joins Al-Wasl for fresh start in UAE
-Portuguese coach Luis Castro has been given a shot at redemption in Middle Eastern football after former United Arab Emirates champions Al-Wasl appointed him for the upcoming season months after his high-profile exit from Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. Castro, 63, departed the Saudi team in September following a title near-miss. Even with Ronaldo claiming the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot during his tenure, Castro's inability to deliver the championship ultimately cost him his position in Riyadh. "Al-Wasl officially signed the Portuguese coach Luis Castro to lead 'the Emperor' in the upcoming competitions," the Dubai club announced on social media, welcoming him to their Zabeel headquarters. He replaces Serbian Milos Milojevic, who was dismissed after Al-Wasl finished only fourth in the league to miss out on the Asian Champions League Elite. The well-travelled Castro, whose coaching career includes stints at Qatar's Al Duhail, Brazil's Botafogo and Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk, now faces the challenge of elevating Al-Wasl from AFC Champions League Two contenders back to the UAE summit. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Portuguese coach Castro joins Al-Wasl for fresh start in UAE
June 4 (Reuters) - - Portuguese coach Luis Castro has been given a shot at redemption in Middle Eastern football after former United Arab Emirates champions Al-Wasl appointed him for the upcoming season months after his high-profile exit from Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr. Castro, 63, departed the Saudi team in September following a title near-miss. Even with Ronaldo claiming the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot during his tenure, Castro's inability to deliver the championship ultimately cost him his position in Riyadh. "Al-Wasl officially signed the Portuguese coach Luis Castro to lead 'the Emperor' in the upcoming competitions," the Dubai club announced on social media, welcoming him to their Zabeel headquarters. He replaces Serbian Milos Milojevic, who was dismissed after Al-Wasl finished only fourth in the league to miss out on the Asian Champions League Elite. The well-travelled Castro, whose coaching career includes stints at Qatar's Al Duhail, Brazil's Botafogo and Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk, now faces the challenge of elevating Al-Wasl from AFC Champions League Two contenders back to the UAE summit.
Arab News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Al-Wasl host Al-Jazira as mouthwatering ADIB Cup semifinals kick off
DUBAI: A quartet of UAE heavyweights are set to lock horns during the international break as the ADIB Cup's mouth-watering semifinals kick off on Monday night. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Ex-France star Nabil Fekir's Al-Jazira travel to troubled reigning ADNOC Pro League and President's Cup holders Al-Wasl in tonight's opening first leg. And a re-run of this month's AFC Champions League Two quarterfinals begins on Tuesday when Sharjah — who prevailed on penalties at continental level — host runaway top-flight leaders Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club. The finalists will be decided in the second legs on March 22 and 23. Monday's meeting at Zabeel Stadium pits an in-form Jazira against opponents reeling from a continental elimination which has compounded their underwhelming 2024-2025 season. Al-Wasl ended a 17-year domestic trophy drought in style last term. But they currently sit 20 points off the leading pace in sixth. And they lost 4-2 on aggregate to Qatar Stars League holders Al-Sadd during the AFC CL Elite's round of 16. An opportunity to salvage something from this season will be sorely tested by a Jazira that have prevailed in four of their last five fixtures, across all competitions. In the other tie, a remarkable run of fixtures continues with the third and fourth meetings of five-successive clashes between Sharjah and Shabab Al-Ahli. Narrow continental progress for the former has tantalizingly set the scene for the ADIB Cup's last four, with March 28's league restart to follow. With both clubs competing vigorously across multiple fronts, intense competition awaits at Sharjah Stadium on Tuesday in the absence of many international representatives.
Express Tribune
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Duran and Ronaldo fire Al-Nassr into ACL quarters
Al-Nassr's Jhon Duran scored twice and Cristiano Ronaldo netted a penalty as the Saudi Pro League side booked a place in the Asian Champions League Elite last eight on Monday with a 3-0 win over Iran's Esteghlal while Qatar's Al-Sadd beat Al-Wasl. Akram Afif was instrumental in Al-Sadd's 3-1 victory in Doha and got on the scoresheet as he led Felix Sanchez's side to a 4-2 aggregate win over the side from the United Arab Emirates. Al-Nassr's win in Riyadh came after a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Tehran last week and takes Stefano Pioli's team into the quarter-finals, which will be played in Jeddah as part of a centralised tournament from April 25 to May 3. Duran put Al-Nassr in front after nine minutes, with the Colombian lifting the ball over Seyed Hossein Hosseini after the Esteghlal goalkeeper gifted possession to the striker 25 metres from goal. The Saudis doubled their lead from the penalty spot, Cristiano Ronaldo stepping up in the 27th minute to convert with typical confidence following Mohammad Niknafs' mistimed challenge on Sadio Mane. Esteghlal's task was made almost impossible when Mehran Ahmadi was sent off for a second bookable offence late in the first half as he caught Mohammed Al-Fatil in the face with a flailing arm. Duran claimed his second goal of the game six minutes from time when he whipped a low strike into the bottom corner having earlier hit the post as Al-Nassr eased through. "I think we played well," said Mane. "We created many chances and we scored three goals. I think we got our reward. "We pressed well together, we pushed them and they made mistakes and from that we scored three goals. We have a clean sheet and we cannot expect more than this." Al-Sadd progressed as a result of an 11-minute spell in the first half against Al-Wasl that saw the Qataris score three times to overturn Fabio Lima's early opener. The Brazil-born forward gave his side the lead in the 10th minute, sweeping a first-time shot home after Alexis Perez's centre had arced over the Al-Sadd back line. But Afif unlocked the Al-Wasl defence to haul Al-Sadd level 16 minutes later, driving towards the byline before pulling the ball back into the path of Mostafa Meshaal who he slotted into the bottom corner. Youcef Atal's strike saw Al-Sadd take the lead on the half-hour as he cut inside towards goal before his shot from the tightest of angles deflected past Khaled Al-Senaani via the boot of Al-Wasl defender Jung Seung-hyun. Asian Player of the Year Afif showed his quality with the third in the 37th minute, playing a short free kick to Claudinho and then bending the return into the top corner from 20 metres.
