BEIRUT // Srecko Katanec paid the price for the UAE’s shock defeat to Lebanon last night with his job, ending his two-year reign in charge.
The Slovenian, 48, had his contract terminated immediately after the game and was given the news by Mohammed Khalfan Al Rumaithi, the president of the Football Association, who was at the game at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium.
“It is official now, Srecko Katanec is terminated,” confirmed Jaseb Majeed, the FA’s media manager.
Following the 3-2 defeat to Kuwait on Friday night, speculation had been mounting that defeat to Lebanon, who were thrashed 6-0 by South Korea last week and 7-1 by the UAE in July, would cost Katanec his job, and so it has proved.
At the team hotel late last night, Katanec said he had a long chat with Al Rumaithi after being informed he was out of a job.
“We talked about many things, and I was grateful for that,” Katanec said in the lobby of the Safir Heliopolis Hotel. “When I was sacked at Olimpiakos, nobody tells me nothing.”
He said he was “angry, not sad” at the turn of events because he felt more could have been accomplished, and he said he would still be employed had the UAE defeated Lebanon.
Katanec has heard the rumours of Abel Braga replacing him. “I think someone has been pushing me from behind, but it does not matter anymore.”
He said the new coach will need time. “I hope they are patient with him, and I hope some of the players will join a little higher level of football to get more experience. It will be necessary in the future if you want to win.”
He said the national team needs to examine their work ethic. “You can win and you can lose, but you must work,” he said. “I know this, if you are not working, you lose the game.”
The UAE are bottom of Group B and their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1990 are virtually over despite having four games remaining.
Katanec had previously criticised the chaotic structure of the domestic league, the lack of Emirati strikers and the fitness of his players, but he was not offering any mitigating circumstances for the latest defeat straight after the match last night.
"I thought I did my job, but we lost and it is my fault," Katanec said. "I do not want to make excuses."
Katanec's position initially came under scrunity following a hugely disappointing performance in the Asian Cup where the UAE mustered just one point from three games and failed to score a goal.
He bought himself some time with a comprehensive two-legged World Cup qualifying victory over India, but the reprieve proved short lived. His position became untenable after successive defeats to Kuwait and Lebanon.
“We played very bad in both matches and I will take full responsibility of the team’s poor performances,” Katanec told the Arabic daily Al Ittihad.
Theo Bucker, the German who took over Lebanon before their 6-0 Group B defeat by South Korea, said he could empathise with Katanec’s precarious situation.
“This is very sad,” Bucker said. “I’m sure the guy is a good coach. He has given everything to the team, but he himself is not able to play. He is not able to score. If the elements of the team do not respond to him …
“I coached in Dubai, and I know it is not easy there in the UAE. So I’m feeling sorry for the guy because this is an unpleasant situation for him. But it’s football.”
Katanec’s cause last night was hardly helped by the fact he was forced to use two players late in the match, Salem Saleh and Ahmed Jumaa, with extremely limited international experience.
“But who else do I have? They are new players, but we needed them,” he said before his dismissal.
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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Director: Tim Burton
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Full name: Aisha Abdulqader Saeed
Age: 34
Emirate: Dubai
Favourite quote: "No one has ever become poor by giving"
The Perfect Couple
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Creator: Jenna Lamia
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Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
Jawan
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
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Six pitfalls to avoid when trading company stocks
Following fashion
Investing is cyclical, buying last year's winners often means holding this year's losers.
Losing your balance
You end up with too much exposure to an individual company or sector that has taken your fancy.
Being over active
If you chop and change your portfolio too often, dealing charges will eat up your gains.
Running your losers
Investors hate admitting mistakes and hold onto bad stocks hoping they will come good.
Selling in a panic
If you sell up when the market drops, you have locked yourself out of the recovery.
Timing the market
Even the best investor in the world cannot consistently call market movements.
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
FA Cup quarter-final draw
The matches will be played across the weekend of 21 and 22 March
Sheffield United v Arsenal
Newcastle v Manchester City
Norwich v Derby/Manchester United
Leicester City v Chelsea
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
if you go
The flights
Flydubai offers three daily direct flights to Sarajevo and, from June, a daily flight from Thessaloniki from Dubai. A return flight costs from Dhs1,905 including taxes.
The trip
The Travel Scientists are the organisers of the Balkan Ride and several other rallies around the world. The 2018 running of this particular adventure will take place from August 3-11, once again starting in Sarajevo and ending a week later in Thessaloniki. If you’re driving your own vehicle, then entry start from €880 (Dhs 3,900) per person including all accommodation along the route. Contact the Travel Scientists if you wish to hire one of their vehicles.
IPL 2018 FINAL
Sunrisers Hyderabad 178-6 (20 ovs)
Chennai Super Kings 181-2 (18.3 ovs)
Chennai win by eight wickets
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Match info
What: Fifa Club World Cup play-off
Who: Al Ain v Team Wellington
Where: Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
When: Wednesday, kick off 7.30pm
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