ABU DHABI // Al Jazira named Ali Khamis Al Junaibi, the club's Under 21 coach, as caretaker of the first team following the departure of Abel Braga.
Al Junaibi will be in charge when they travel to Dibba for their final Arabian Gulf Cup match on Tuesday.
Jazira have no chance of making the knockout stages of the cup competition having won only four points from five games in Group B but important for Al Junaibi will be to prepare the team for the next league game against Emirates at home on Saturday.
Al Junaibi fills the vacant position left by Braga, the Brazilian who was coaching the team for a second time. Braga agreed with the club to terminate his contract by mutual consent.
Braga, who led the club to a league and President’s Cup double in 2011, was appointed this summer for a second time, but has led the Abu Dhabi side to only three victories from 16 matches. Thursday’s 4-0 league defeat at Fujairah proved the final straw.
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The club has not set out a timeframe for appointing a new coach but Al Junaibi can stay beyond the cup game and the next two league matches against Emirates on Saturday and Al Dhafra.
“I had to accept the position because it was the decision of the club management until a new manager is named,” said Al Junaibi.
“I know it is not the ideal time to take charge of a team but the responsibility falls on all of us, me, the players and the club management to try to raise the level and achieve some good results during this difficult period.”
Al Junaibi, a former player of Al Ain, moved to Jazira as their U21 coach in the summer having spent three years at Baniyas, where he was the U17 coach and was later appointed as assistant to Iraqi Adnan Hamad in the top flight.
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