West Asia

Exclusive: Arrigo Sacchi Dismisses UAE Reports

Former Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi has told Goal.com that he is not interested in taking the reins of the United Arab Emirates national team.

Nov 25, 2008 1:28:33 AM

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Arrigo Sacchi (Foto Grazia Neri)

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According to reports in the Middle East, Sacchi has been talking to the UAE Football Association and visited the Gulf state before last week’s World Cup qualifier with Iran.

“We have invited him here to discuss the future of football in the UAE; to discuss strategic planning for the future,” Saeed Abdul Gaffar Hussain - the vice-president of the UAE FA –said according to Abu Dhabi daily The National.

“The negotiations are still ongoing and we will see how we can go about this. Sacchi is a very big name in the world of football and we will be proud to have him on board, but nothing has been finalised as yet. We hope that we will get Sacchi, or someone of that status.”

Sacchi, when asked by Goal.com, poured cold water on the claims.

“Me as coach of United Arab Emirates?” he said in a telephone conversation. “There is no way.”

Sacchi has repeatedly said that he has no desire to return to the pressures of coaching and is currently busy with media commitments in Italy.

John Duerden

Asia Editor

john.duerden@goal.com