DUBAI // Colombian Reinaldo Rueda could be confirmed as the new UAE national team manager within the next week, should contract negotiations proceed as planned.
The former Colombia, Honduras and Ecuador manager, currently in charge of Atletico Nacional in his homeland, has emerged as the UAE Football Association’s primary target, and has thus been offered a two-year deal to succeed Mahdi Ali.
Rueda, 60, is willing to step back into international management after a successful two years with Atletico, in which he has led the club to a number of national and South American honours.
The FA’s proposal would carry Rueda through to the conclusion of the next Asian Cup, which takes place in the UAE in 2019, from January 5 to February 1.
Rueda has a contract with Atletico until next year, although the penalty clause to break that agreement is not expected to scupper any potential deal.
The UAE are seeking a new manager following Mahdi Ali’s resignation at the end of March.
The Emirati, who took charge of the senior team in August 2012, stepped down in the immediate aftermath of the UAE’s defeat in the 2018 World Cup qualifier to Australia.
The 2-0 reverse came only five days after the team lost at home to Japan by the same scoreline.
The results leave the UAE in real danger of missing out on what would be only a second appearance at a World Cup finals.
With three matches remaining in the final stage of qualification for Russia next year, the UAE sit fourth in Group B, seven points off the automatic qualification spots.
A third-placed finish offers a route via a series of play-offs, but the national team are currently four points back from Australia in third.
The UAE resume their bid to reach the World Cup on June 13, when they face bottom-placed Thailand in Bangkok.
That the fixture is fast approaching has prompted the FA to expedite negotiations with Rueda, with a resolution expected within the next week at most.
He was identified as a leading candidate for the position some time ago, however the FA did not deal directly with the appropriate representative until the past few days.
Rueda’s appeal lies in his international record. After excelling with Colombian age-group teams from 2002 — he guided the country’s Under-20 side to third at the 2003 Fifa World Youth Championships in the UAE — he was installed as senior-team manager midway through qualification for the 2006 World Cup.
Colombia failed to make the tournament, but Rueda then took charge of Honduras in 2007, leading the team to the 2010 World Cup — only their second appearance at football’s showpiece event.
There, Honduras finished bottom of their group, with Rueda stepping down from the role after the tournament in South Africa.
Almost immediately, he accepted the Ecuador job, where he spent four years and guided his side to the 2014 World Cup.
They finished third in their group in Brazil. Rueda joined Atletico in 2015, with the club winning the Colombian championship, the Copa Colombia and last year’s Copa Libertadores — South America’s premier club competition.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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