With the domestic football season just wrapped, we look at the best and worst from the recently concluded 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League.
Best record — Mabkhout’s 33
In becoming champions, Al Jazira broke a number of professional-era records: they won more matches (22), earned more points (68) and conceded less goals per games (0.57) than any other team in the past nine seasons. However, one individual total stood out — Ali Mabkhout's 33 goals. The UAE striker improved on last season's 23 goals — then a pro-era record for an Emirati — by finding the net 33 times to fire Jazira to a second top-flight title. The previous mark was 31. Mabkhout, thriving at the tip of the Jazira attack, was rightfully voted the league's best Emirati for 2016/17.
Worst decision — Manager of year
The AGL Awards played out largely as expected. They were dominated by Jazira: Mabkhout the league's best local, Ali Kasheif its best goalkeeper and Khalfan Mubarak its best young player. The only shock came when Cosmin Olaroiu was voted the season's best manager ahead of Henk ten Cate. Certainly, the Romanian can lay claim to being the most talented manager in the league, but this season, Ten Cate was undoubtedly top. The turnaround at Jazira since he joined in December 2015 has been incredible, culminating in him guiding the club to a first title in six years. He deserved to be honoured for that.
Best debut — Rodolfo Arruabarrena
Arriving in June last year, Rodolfo Arruabarrena was considered another ambitious punt by Al Wasl. The Dubai club just released manager Gabriel Calderon after a second successive top-six finishes and so they plumped for the relatively inexperienced Arruabarrena. The Argentine, coming off a poor spell at Boca Juniors, impressed immediately with his innovative tactics and modern approach to training. Evidently enthused, his side bought into it. Wasl finished runners-up to Jazira, their best finish in the professional era, losing only three times in 26 matches. As debut campaigns in the UAE go, it was pretty impressive. Little wonder Arruabarrena's contract was swiftly renewed.
Worst scandal — Wanderley
Al Nasr's season will be remembered more for what happened off the pitch. The Dubai club signed striker Wanderley in July, but by September were counting the cost of his recruitment. It transpired that Wanderley, born in Brazil, was registered for the Asian Champions League quarter-finals under a falsified Indonesian passport. Nasr's 3-0 first-leg win against El Jaish — Wanderley scored twice on debut — was reversed, he was suspended for 60 days and a downward spiral began that wrecked the club's season. Wanderley was later given a 10-match ban by the UAE Football Association. In all, he made four AGL appearances. Nasr finished sixth.
Best escape — Emirates club
The scenes at the conclusion of their final match justified the feat. Emirates club, seemingly destined for the drop for much of the campaign, defeated Al Nasr 1-0 at home and, learning of Kalba's 2-1 defeat in Al Ain, celebrated wildly with their safety secured. Somehow, Emirates had booked another campaign in the top flight, consigning Kalba to the drop and finishing 12th, one spot and one point above the relegation zone. Their survival has much to do with the previous two rounds, though, when they defeated Kalba 3-2 and drew 4-4 with bottom-side Baniyas. Right when it mattered most, the players came through.
Worst fall — Baniyas
Where did it all go wrong for the Abu Dhabi club? Members of the top division for eight successive seasons, relegation was confirmed in the penultimate round, the 4-4 draw at home to Emirates club sending Baniyas down. The match summed up their campaign: 4-2 up with 10 minutes remaining, they looked set to take the fight to the final game. In reality, Baniyas were wretched for much of the season — they hired three managers — but their problems ran deep. A number of talented Emiratis were allowed to leave, while a litany of ill-advised managerial appointments cost them. Ultimately, they paid a high price.
Best recruit — Makhete Diop
Al Ahli did not have the greatest of seasons, despite their Arabian Gulf Cup success. The UAE champions relinquished the AGL title to Jazira and eventually finished third, while behind-the-scenes issues came to the fore when the board was disbanded on December 31. As such, Ahli played the second half of the season with only three foreign players, with no replacement brought in for Kwon Kyung–won. However, Makhete Diop represented a rare bright spot. Signed from Al Dhafra in December — he rejected rivals Al Ain — the Senegalese striker scored nine goals in 13 league games. Going forward, Diop will be key.
Worst surrender — Al Ain
Initially, Al Ain were cruising. Sitting third with only three rounds to come, they were 3-0 up at fourth-placed Al Wasl after 29 minutes, set to take a huge step towards qualification for the Asian Champions League. Yet Wasl rebounded spectacularly, coming back to win 4-3 in injury time and overtake Al Ain in the standings. Al Ain would finish fourth, one point outside the Champions League spots, and are poised to miss out on the competition for the first time since 2012. As it is, the 2016 runners-up can qualify for the 2018 Champions League only by winning the 2017 version. It represents a tall ask.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport