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Ivan Hasek returns to coach Dubai’s Al Ahli next season

 

Al Ahli Club has signed a two-season contract with their former coach Ivan Hasek from Czechoslovakia to lead their football team starting from next season 2011/2012. 

The new coach will join the team at the beginning of next month to start pre-season training before the team leaves for their warm up camp overseas.

Ivan Hasek coached Al Ahli in the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 seasons, winning three championships in two seasons - the first edition of the Etisalat Prof-League, Etisalat Super Cup and the President's Cup. At the end of the 2008/2009 season, the Czech coach resigned and returned home where he was appointed President of the Czech Republic  Football Association.

During his two-year presidency of the Czech Football Association, Hasek is recognised for doing a great job but is now set to return to our shores after accepting the offer from Al Ahli.

Al Ahli had a disappointing season last season, finishing in eighth position of the Etisalat Pro-League. They were led by local coach Abdul Hameed Al Mistaki following the dismissal of Irish coach David O'Leary. The Club is looking to restore their past achievements in the previous era of Ivan Hasek.

During his 21-year career, Hasek played for Sparta Praque, RC Strasbourg, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and JEF United  Ichihara. He played mainly as a central midfielder. He also represented his national team in 56 matches for a decade from 1984-1994. He also captained the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where the Czech side reached the quarterfinals. He received the best player for Czechoslovakia twice in 1987 and 1988.