2011–12 UAE Pro-League
Encyclopedia
The 2011–12 Pro-League
season (known as Etisalat Pro-League for sponsorship reasons) is the 37th top-level football season in the UAE, and the 4th Professional season. Al Jazira is the defending champions, having won their 1st Pro-League title in the 2010–11 campaign after being runner-up for three times in a row. Al Dhafra and Ittihad Kalba were relegated from the previous season. Ajman
and Emirates were promoted from the UAE Division 1 Group A. The campaign began on 15 October 2011.
and runners up Emirates Club.
eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
UAE Pro-League
The UAE Pro-League is the First Division of the UAE Football League, commonly known as Etisalat Pro-League for sponsorship reasons, since 2008, is the top professional association football league in United Arab Emirates...
season (known as Etisalat Pro-League for sponsorship reasons) is the 37th top-level football season in the UAE, and the 4th Professional season. Al Jazira is the defending champions, having won their 1st Pro-League title in the 2010–11 campaign after being runner-up for three times in a row. Al Dhafra and Ittihad Kalba were relegated from the previous season. Ajman
Ajman Club
Ajman Club is a United Arab Emirati football club based in Ajman, UAE. As of the 2011-12 season they will compete in the UAE Pro-League.Ajman club is one of the biggest clubs in the UAE, they are also one of the best clubs in the season of 2008....
and Emirates were promoted from the UAE Division 1 Group A. The campaign began on 15 October 2011.
Teams
Ittihad Kalba and Al Dhafra were relegated to the 2011–12 UAE Division 1 Group A after finishing in the bottom two spots of the table at the end of the 2010-11 season. The two relegated teams were replaced by 2nd level champions Ajman ClubAjman Club
Ajman Club is a United Arab Emirati football club based in Ajman, UAE. As of the 2011-12 season they will compete in the UAE Pro-League.Ajman club is one of the biggest clubs in the UAE, they are also one of the best clubs in the season of 2008....
and runners up Emirates Club.
Stadia and locations
| Team | Home city | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ahli Al-Ahli (UAE) Al-Ahli Club is a United Arab Emirates professional football club. They are based in Dubai. The club is abbreviated as A.C..... |
Dubai Dubai Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi... |
Rashed Stadium | 18,000 |
| Al Jazira | Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western... |
Al Jazira Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium Al Jazira Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium Al Jazira Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. It is currently used mostly for football and cricket matches and is the home ground of Al Jazira Club.... |
42,056 |
| Al Ain | Al Ain Al Ain Al Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about... |
Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium | 15,000 |
| Al Wahda | Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western... |
Al-Nahyan Stadium Al-Nahyan Stadium Al-Nahyan Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Al Wahda. The stadium holds 12,000 people and was built in 1995, the stadium also hosted group games of the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.... |
12,000 |
| Al Shabab | Dubai Dubai Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi... |
Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Al Shabab Al Arabi Club of the UAE Pro-League. The stadium holds 18,000 spectators.... |
12,000 |
| Al Wasl Al Wasl FC Al Wasl Sports Club is a multi-sports club in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It is best known for its football team.-The Cheetahs:Being one of the most popular clubs in the UAE, AlWasl have had several nicknames. The most famous one being... |
Dubai Dubai Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi... |
Zabeel Stadium Zabeel Stadium Zabeel Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Zabeel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 18,000 people. It was completed in 1974.... |
12,000 |
| Al Nasr Al-Nasr Sports Club Al-Nasr Sports Club , is a professional association football club located in Dubai and plays in the UAE Pro-League. Al-Nasr, literally translating to "victory" in Arabic was founded in 1945 and considered as the first and the oldest club in the UAE... |
Dubai Dubai Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi... |
Al-Maktoum Stadium Al-Maktoum Stadium Al-Maktoum Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Al Nasr SC. The stadium holds 12,000 people.-External links:*... |
12,000 |
| Al Sharjah | Sharjah Sharjah (city) Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah... |
Sharjah Stadium | 18,000 |
| Ajman Ajman Club Ajman Club is a United Arab Emirati football club based in Ajman, UAE. As of the 2011-12 season they will compete in the UAE Pro-League.Ajman club is one of the biggest clubs in the UAE, they are also one of the best clubs in the season of 2008.... |
Ajman Ajman Ajman , also spelt Ujman, is one of the seven emirates constituting the United Arab Emirates . With an area of just 260 square kilometres , Ajman is the smallest emirate by area... |
Ajman Stadium Ajman Stadium Ajman Stadium is a football stadium in Ajman. It is known as the home of association football club Ajman Club and it has a capacity of 10,000.-External links:*... |
10,000 |
| Dubai Dubai Club Dubai Cultural Sports Club is a football club based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.-History:The club was in 2007 relegated to the UAE Second Division and played three years in the league, before returned 2010 in the UAE League.-Current squad:... |
Dubai Dubai Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi... |
Police Officers Club Stadium Police Officers Club Stadium Police Officers Club Stadium or Dubai Municipal Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 7,500 people.... |
6,500 |
| Bani Yas Bani Yas Club Baniyas Sports & Culture Club ; commonly referred to as simply Baniyas, or Al Smawi) is a Emirati football club, based in the Bani Yas area of Abu Dhabi... |
Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western... |
Bani Yas Stadium | 22,000 |
| Emirates Club | Ras al-Khaimah Ras al-Khaimah Ras al-Khaimah is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates , in the east of the Persian Gulf. It is in the northern part of the UAE bordering Oman's exclave. The capital city and home of most residents is also called Ras al-Khaimah. The city has a population of 263,217 as of 2008. The city... |
Emirates Club Stadium Emirates Club Stadium Emirates Club Stadium is a multi-use stadium located in Ras al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Emirates Club. The stadium holds near 3,000 people.... |
6,000 |
Personnel and sponsorship
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
eligibility rules. Players and Managers may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Chairman | Head Coach | Captain | Kitmaker | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Ahli |  Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum |
 Quique Flores |
Mohammed Qassim Mohammed Qassim Mohammed Qassim is a footballer from the United Arab Emirates . He currently plays for Al-Ahli Football Club - Dubai.-External links:... |
Nike Nike, Inc. Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area... |
Toshiba Toshiba is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and... |
| Al Jazira | Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is a United Arab Emirati politician and member of ruling family of Abu Dhabi . He is the half brother of the current President of UAE, Emir of Abu Dhabi, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan... |
 Franky VercauterenFranky Vercauteren François Vercauteren , nicknamed "The Little Prince", is a former Belgian football left winger and is now a football manager, who is currently working for Al Jazira Club.- Career :... |
 Ibrahim DiakyIbrahim Diaky Ibrahim Diaky is an Emirati football midfielder. He currently plays for Al-Jazira Club. Diaky is originally from the Ivory Coast though he was granted UAE citizenship in late 2006.-External links:*... |
TBD | TBD |
| Al Wahda | Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan His Highness Brigadier Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is an Emirati politician and member of Al Nahyan the ruling royal family of Abu Dhabi.... |
 Josef HickersbergerJosef Hickersberger Josef Hickersberger is a former professional football player and former coach of the Austria national football team and Austrian club side Rapid Wien.-Club career:... |
Fahed Masoud |
TBD | TBD |
| Al Ain Al Ain FC Al-Ain Sports and Cultural Club is a professional association football and mult-sports club based in the city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. The football section of Al Ain won the 2003 AFC Champions League competition with a 2-1 aggregate victory over BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand.Al Ain... |
Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces .-Political and business career:... |
 Cosmin OlăroiuCosmin Olaroiu Aurelian Cosmin Olăroiu is a former Romanian football player and football manager.-Club career:As a player, Olăroiu's best-known clubs he played for are Universitatea Craiova and Naţional Bucureşti. However, he also played with success in K-League for Suwon Samsung Bluewings and helped the team to... |
Rami Yaslam Rami Yaslam Rami Yaslam is an Emarati footballer. He currently plays for Al Ain FC.-External links:* At *, Al Ain Sports & Cultural Club... |
TBD | TBD |
| Al Sharjah |  Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani |
Valeriu Tiţa Valeriu Tiţa Valeriu Tiţa is a Romanian football coach. He is the former manager of Syrian club Al-Ittihad Aleppo with whom he won the AFC Cup in 2010 and former manager of the Syrian national team.... |
Nawaf Mubarak |
TBD | TBD |
| Al Nasr | Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid |
 Walter ZengaWalter Zenga Walter Zenga is a retired Italian footballer and current manager. He is a long-time goalkeeper for the Italian national team and Internazionale. He also holds Romanian citizenship... |
Abdallah Mousa |
TBD | TBD |
| Ajman Ajman Club Ajman Club is a United Arab Emirati football club based in Ajman, UAE. As of the 2011-12 season they will compete in the UAE Pro-League.Ajman club is one of the biggest clubs in the UAE, they are also one of the best clubs in the season of 2008.... |
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid al-Nuaimi , succeeded his father Shaikh Rashid and became the emir of Ajmān in 1981 and he is the current emir of Ajmān... |
 Abdulwahab Abdulkadir |
Mohamed Zahran |
TBD | TBD |
| Emirates | Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qassimi Ahmed bin Saqr al-Qassimi Sheikh Ahmed bin Saqr Al Qassimi is Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Customs and Seaports.He purchased a 60% stake in an unnamed British Premier League football club in June 2009.-References:... |
 Ghazi Ghrairi |
 Karim KerkarKarim Kerkar Karim Kerkar is an Algerian international footballer who currently plays for Ajman Club in the UAE Football League.-Personal:Kerkar was born to a family of Algerian immigrants in the town of Givors in France... |
TBD | TBD |
| Baniyas | Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan HH Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is United Arab Emirates Minister of Interior and Deputy Prime Minister .. Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain and graduated with a B.S... |
 Gabriel CalderónGabriel Calderón Gabriel Humberto Calderón is a former Argentine football midfielder.Calderón played in several teams including Argentine Racing Club de Avellaneda and Club Atlético Independiente, Spanish Real Betis and French Paris Saint-Germain... |
 Fawzi BashirFawzi Bashir Fawzi Bashir Rajab Bait Doorbeen, most commonly known as Fawzi Bashir , is a Omani football midfielder who currently plays for U.A.E. club, Bani Yas. He has been an active member of the senior national team since the early turn of the millennium. Fawzi has been a very key player for the Oman... |
TBD | TBD |
| Al Wasl Al Wasl FC Al Wasl Sports Club is a multi-sports club in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It is best known for its football team.-The Cheetahs:Being one of the most popular clubs in the UAE, AlWasl have had several nicknames. The most famous one being... |
Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Major General Sheikh Ahmed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum is the Deputy Chairman of Dubai Police & Public Security. He is the current Chairman of the Al Wasl FC club located in Dubai.... |
Diego Maradona Diego Maradona Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting... |
Khalid Darwish Khalid Darwish Khalid Darwish is an Emirati footballer. He currently plays for Al Wasl FC. He is known for his ball controlling skills and excellent passing. He is sometimes nicknamed "Khalidona" after the famous football legend Maradona... |
TBD | TBD |
| Al Shabab | Saeed bin Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum |
 Paulo Bonamigo |
Hassan Al Sharif |
TBD | TBD |
| Dubai Dubai Club Dubai Cultural Sports Club is a football club based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.-History:The club was in 2007 relegated to the UAE Second Division and played three years in the league, before returned 2010 in the UAE League.-Current squad:... |
Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Maktoum |
Ion Marin |
Jamal Abdullah |
TBD | TBD |
Pre-season
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Wasl Al Wasl FC Al Wasl Sports Club is a multi-sports club in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. It is best known for its football team.-The Cheetahs:Being one of the most popular clubs in the UAE, AlWasl have had several nicknames. The most famous one being... |
Khalifa Mubarak |
Caretaker role ended | Diego Maradona Diego Maradona Diego Armando Maradona is a retired Argentine football player and widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time. Over the course of his professional club career Maradona played for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys, setting... |
| Al Jazira | Abel Braga Abel Braga Abel Carlos da Silva Braga, also known as Abel Braga or just Abel during his playing days , is a football manager and a former football player... |
Contract finished | Franky Vercauteren Franky Vercauteren François Vercauteren , nicknamed "The Little Prince", is a former Belgian football left winger and is now a football manager, who is currently working for Al Jazira Club.- Career :... |
| Al Ain Al Ain FC Al-Ain Sports and Cultural Club is a professional association football and mult-sports club based in the city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. The football section of Al Ain won the 2003 AFC Champions League competition with a 2-1 aggregate victory over BEC Tero Sasana of Thailand.Al Ain... |
Alexandre Gallo Alexandre Gallo Alexandre Tadeu Gallo, best known as Gallo is one of the new gifted Brazilian young coaches of the new generation. He used to be a former football player as a defensive midfielder... |
Contract finished | Cosmin Olăroiu Cosmin Olaroiu Aurelian Cosmin Olăroiu is a former Romanian football player and football manager.-Club career:As a player, Olăroiu's best-known clubs he played for are Universitatea Craiova and Naţional Bucureşti. However, he also played with success in K-League for Suwon Samsung Bluewings and helped the team to... |
| Baniyas | Mahdi Ali |
Caretaker role ended | Jorvan Vieira Jorvan Vieira Jorvan Vieira is a Luso-Brazilian football manager.-Playing career:Vieira began his professional football career after studying Sports Medicine for three years, playing for top Brazilian clubs Vasco da Gama, Botafogo and Portuguesa in the 1970s... |
| Al-Ahli | Abdulhameed al Mishtiki |
Caretaker role ended |  Ivan HašekIvan Hašek Ivan Hašek is a retired Czech footballer who played as a central midfielder.He spent 11 years of his career with Sparta Prague, appearing in more than 300 official games with the club, and later acting as its manager.... |
| Al Sharjah |  Carlos AzenhaCarlos Azenha Carlos Soares Azenha is a football manager.- Coaching career :Carlos Azenha started his career off at local club Vitória Setúbal as assistant manager from 2000 to 2002 under the management of Jorge Jesus... |
Resigned before season started | Valeriu Tiţa Valeriu Tiţa Valeriu Tiţa is a Romanian football coach. He is the former manager of Syrian club Al-Ittihad Aleppo with whom he won the AFC Cup in 2010 and former manager of the Syrian national team.... |
During the season
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Replaced by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Dubai Club Dubai Cultural Sports Club is a football club based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.-History:The club was in 2007 relegated to the UAE Second Division and played three years in the league, before returned 2010 in the UAE League.-Current squad:... |
Néstor Clausen Néstor Clausen Néstor Clausen , a native of Arrufo, Santa Fe Province, Argentina, is a former footballer, a 1986 FIFA World Champion, and current manager.... |
Resigned |  Umberto BarberisUmberto Barberis Umberto Barberis or simply Berto is a former Swiss-Italian footballer, last managing Dubai Club.-Playing career:... |
| Dubai Dubai Club Dubai Cultural Sports Club is a football club based in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.-History:The club was in 2007 relegated to the UAE Second Division and played three years in the league, before returned 2010 in the UAE League.-Current squad:... |
Umberto Barberis Umberto Barberis Umberto Barberis or simply Berto is a former Swiss-Italian footballer, last managing Dubai Club.-Playing career:... |
Caretaker role ended | Ion Marin |
| Baniyas | Jorvan Vieira Jorvan Vieira Jorvan Vieira is a Luso-Brazilian football manager.-Playing career:Vieira began his professional football career after studying Sports Medicine for three years, playing for top Brazilian clubs Vasco da Gama, Botafogo and Portuguesa in the 1970s... |
Sacked | Salem Al-Orfi |
| Al-Ahli | Ivan Hašek Ivan Hašek Ivan Hašek is a retired Czech footballer who played as a central midfielder.He spent 11 years of his career with Sparta Prague, appearing in more than 300 official games with the club, and later acting as its manager.... |
Sacked | Quique Flores |
| Baniyas | Salem Al-Orfi |
Sacked | Gabriel Calderón Gabriel Calderón Gabriel Humberto Calderón is a former Argentine football midfielder.Calderón played in several teams including Argentine Racing Club de Avellaneda and Club Atlético Independiente, Spanish Real Betis and French Paris Saint-Germain... |
League table
|rowspan=2|RelegationResults
See also
- List of United Arab Emirates football transfers summer 2011
- 2011–12 UAE President's Cup
- 2011–12 Etisalat Emirates Cup2011–12 Etisalat Emirates CupThe 2011–12 Etisalat Emirates Cup is the fourth season of the league cup competition for teams in the UAE Pro-League.-Group A:-Group B:-External links:*...
External links
- UFL Official Website
- Football Association The UAE Football Association