As club football gets the measure of what a winter World Cup means for its rhythms, a thought for those coaches not busy pouring their energies into how to manage player recuperation or offering sympathy or praise to footballers recently returned from Qatar. The winter World Cup, with barely any holiday time to follow it, has complicated the life of the unemployed, elite manager.
They are a distinguished group, too. Look back over the last five European Cup finals and you find three of the seven different managers involved in them currently out of work, waiting for the right offer.
Zinedine Zidane won the Champions League three times on the trot with Real Madrid, from 2016 to 2018. Thomas Tuchel led different clubs, Paris-Saint-Germain and Chelsea, in successive years to finals, his yield a silver medal and then a gold. Mauricio Pochettino made history for Tottenham Hotspur by guiding them to a final; less than 12 months ago Pochettino was on his way to a league title at PSG.
Nor are these recently medalled, admired out-of-work managers only in Europe. Marcelo Gallardo, who left Argentina’s River Plate in November after an eight-year spell that included two Copa Libertadores triumphs and a winning final in the Copa Sudamericana – the continent’s secondary trophy – is ready to end his short break from touchlines and accept a fresh challenge. Gallardo has already heard from a range of possible suitors well beyond South America.
Each of these coaches’ potential career plans were affected by events in Qatar, especially once France and Argentina won their respective semi-finals. It meant the president of the French Federation, Noel Le Graet, strengthened his resolve to have the long-serving France coach Didier Deschamps extend his commitment with the national team to another World Cup, the 2026 tournament. Deschamps, whose men lost on penalties in the Qatar final, signed his new contract last weekend.
The confirmation that Deschamps, who steered France to the 2018 World Cup title, would take his term into a second decade had several knock-on effects. One of them, indirectly, was the suspension of Le Graet from his position, not for backing Deschamps but in part for dismissive remarks he made about the leading alternative – Zidane.
“I would not have picked up the phone to him,” said Le Graet of Zidane, a hero, as a player, of France’s 1998 World Cup win. It was a sour remark publicly criticised by Kylian Mbappe, France’s highest-profile current player, among others.
Zidane has made no secret of his ambition to manage France, and, had Deschamps overseen a failure in Qatar, would have been well positioned, even if Le Graet was lukewarm on him, to take the reins. Zidane has turned down major club offers in the 18 months since he stepped down from a second spell coaching Real Madrid, always with the France possibility in mind.
With that vacancy now closed, Zidane is understood to feel he needs to return to touchline duties somewhere by the middle of this year. Among the jobs Zidane was sounded out for was PSG, last summer, after Pochettino had been pushed out, despite winning the Ligue 1 title. Christophe Galtier accepted the position instead, and should be secure there at least until June.
Argentina’s rousing win at the Lusail Stadium four weekends ago also meant the Argentinian Football Federation will not be looking for a new manager. Lionel Scaloni, initially a caretaker, now a World Cup winner, is a national idol.
Both Pochettino and Gallardo, former Argentina players, would have been sounded out if Argentina had flopped in Qatar. So would Diego Simeone, whose 11-year spell managing Atletico Madrid appears to be nearing its end date, most likely this summer.
That would crowd the elite pool of job-seeking coaches even further. Some are impatient. Pochettino, like Zidane, is eager to be back in work, six months on from leaving PSG. Tuchel, while enjoying his break since his Chelsea sacking in September, has made it clear he is on the market. Gallardo wants to capitalise on his elevated reputation.
For coaches sitting nervously on benches of big clubs, the de luxe list of would-be replacements is daunting.
Real Madrid – where the veteran Carlo Ancelotti faces a series of big dates in the coming week, Sunday’s Spanish Cup final to be followed by the Club World Cup – are already planning the Italian's succession despite the fact he won the double last May. They have sized up Pochettino in the past.
At Juventus, where a new board are in the process of taking charge, form under Max Allegri may have picked up after a poor start to the campaign but the pursuit of the Serie A title will seem very distant if they lose to table-topping Napoli, already seven points clear on Friday evening. Zidane is former Juventus player, and, as a coach, has been on the club’s radar for many years.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Scores in brief:
Boost Defenders 205-5 in 20 overs
(Colin Ingram 84 not out, Cameron Delport 36, William Somerville 2-28)
bt Auckland Aces 170 for 5 in 20 overs
(Rob O’Donnell 67 not out, Kyle Abbott 3-21).
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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THE BIO:
Favourite holiday destination: Thailand. I go every year and I’m obsessed with the fitness camps there.
Favourite book: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. It’s an amazing story about barefoot running.
Favourite film: A League of their Own. I used to love watching it in my granny’s house when I was seven.
Personal motto: Believe it and you can achieve it.
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
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