UAE FA deny Edgardo Bauza’s arrival but expect to name new manager this week

Edgardo Bauza has been a leading candidate for the UAE manager's position since the beginning of the FA's search. Juan Mabromata / AFP

DUBAI // The UAE Football Association hope to make an announcement regarding the new national team manager within the next 48 hours, although they denied speculation Argentine Edgardo Bauza is to arrive on Monday to finalise a deal.

Reports in his homeland on Sunday claimed the former Argentina national team manager, who was last month dismissed eight months into the role, was making his way to the Emirates to sign off on a contract with the UAE through to the conclusion of the 2019 Asian Cup.

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However, the FA said late on Sunday that they had no knowledge of Bauza’s impending arrival, or that he was set to accept an offer. They did, though, say the hunt for Mahdi Ali’s successor could be resolved within the next two days.

Nevertheless, it appears Bauza is moving closer to being installed. The 59-year-old former defender has always featured prominently in the FA’s search for a new manager, and had initially rejected an offer last month.

Bauza re-emerged as the lead candidate once Colombian Reinaldo Rueda, currently in charge of Atletico Nacional, confirmed last Thursday that he would not be able to join up with the national team until after their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Thailand on June 13. The UAE currently sit fourth in Group B, seven points off the automatic qualification spots with three matches remaining.

The FA want a new man in place as quickly as possible, but have also set success at the Gulf Cup later this year and then again at the 2019 Asian Cup, which takes place in the Emirates, as principal targets going forward.

Should Bauza be appointed, it would mark a swift return to international management. He was told to step down as Argentina manager on April 10 following a dreadful World Cup qualifying campaign that left the 2014 finalists fifth in the Conmebol section — one spot outside automatic qualification. In his eight matches at the helm, Argentina won three times and drew twice.

Bauza does boast significant managerial experience, though, having spent the majority of his post-playing career at clubs in Argentina and throughout South America. Most notably, he led Ecuador’s LDU Quito and Argentina’s San Lorenzo to win the Copa Libertadores, the highest club prize in South American football, in 2008 and 2014, respectively. Bauza was also employed briefly at Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr in 2009.

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