Cosmin Olaroiu casts doubt over Al Ahli future: ‘I hope whoever is replacing me does well’

The Al Ahli manager suggested in his post-match press conference that he could be leaving the club despite signing a two year contract extension recently.

Cosmin Olaroiu has suggested he could leave his role as Al Ahli manager at the end of the season. Marwan Naamani / AFP

DUBAI // Cosmin Olaroiu cast doubt on his Al Ahli future in the immediate aftermath of their 2-2 draw against Baniyas on Friday night, although the newly anointed Arabian Gulf League champions have denied any knowledge of a pending resignation.

Confusion reigned at the Rashid Stadium following the Dubai club’s disappointing draw in their penultimate fixture of the league season, which came 24 hours after a seventh league title was confirmed, where Olaroiu used the post-match conference to suggest he was leaving the club.

The Romanian had been sent to the stands at the conclusion of the match for remonstrating with officials — one of the many times he has been sent off during his three seasons at Ahli.

Speaking not long after the final whistle, a clearly still irate Olaroiu said: “I work where I am appreciated. In three years we did great things: two Super Cups, two leagues, the Arabian Gulf Cup and four finals.

“Thanks to all my players for their efforts. I hope whoever is replacing me does well at Al Ahli and I hope the club does well after me.”

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See also: Five key factors in Al Ahli's march to the AGL title

Whether or not Olaroiu’s comments were said in the heat of the moment is not yet known. However, Ahli officials said they were not aware what had just transpired, citing his signing last summer of a contract extension as reason to believe he will remain at the club.​

Since joining from rivals Al Ain in the summer of 2013, Olaroiu has guided Ahli to two league championships in three seasons, while in November he also led his side to the Asian Champions League final, where they lost to China’s Guangzhou Evergrande. Ahli still have the President’s Cup quarter-finals to come next month.

Olaroiu’s current contract runs until 2018.

Abdulmajeed Hussein, the Ahli team manager, spoke to the media directly after the match, saying: “I don’t want to talk about this, because I don’t know anything about this. Cosmin extended his contract for two more seasons and we are planning to win more trophies this season and next season.

“Maybe it’s because he is a little bit upset because of the referee, but I haven’t spoken to him. Always the referees kick him outside. If you’re a big coach, a trophy winner, a champion every time, but because of the referees’ mistake they send you off and there’s no respect, surely anyone would be upset.​

“For sure, we have a plan to go forward with Cosmin. We plan for many things together. For us, he is our coach. I think he’s the best coach on the continent — he won the league trophy with Al Ain twice and with us, plus the Super Cup, Etisalat Cup, Arabian Gulf Cup. Maybe he is just angry with the referee.”

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