Holds an Important Meeting with the Players.. Pedro: My Sights Are Highly Set to Win All the Boss’ Matches

Press

The Squad is Required to Boost Up their Efforts, and I Am Not Here to Give Promises

So Proud to Join Al Ain FC, the Biggest UAE Club and the Strongest in Asia

We Will Play with the Spirit of the One Team to Make the Fans Happy

The Club Has Great Potentials That Pave the Way to Achieve Our Soaring Aspirations

My strategy matches Al Ain’s Vision in Considering Second Pace as the Last Position

Arriving in UAE on Saturday morning flying from Lisbon to assume his new position as the head coach of the “Global Boss”, Portuguese Pedro Emmanuel was keen to hold his first meeting with the Boss squad before officially supervising the first training session of the team.

Earlier in time, the coach was taken on a tour of the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium following signing his official contract as the new head coach of the Boss squad and attend a meeting held by the members of the Technical Committee for Professionalism.

The Portuguese Pedro took the opportunity to express his pleasure and pride in joining Al Ain Club. “It is an honor for me to be part of this big club whose name is always associated with the prominent achievements and on top the runners up of the champs of FIFA Club World Cup- UAE 2018.”

“The real fun in the world of football is based on the principle of facing challenges by all the players, coaching and administrative teams and fans. I did not sign with Al Ain Club to give promises. I am here to work hard and achieve the pre-set goals as per the priorities agenda well-defined during the meetings held during the negotiations stage,” Pedro stated.

He added: “We have to make use of the available time and push ourselves to the limit. We have to keep an eagle eye on the goals to be achieved within a season full of massive challenges.”

He also extended his most profound appreciation for the Board of Directors of Al Ain Football Club Company chaired by HE Dr. Matar Al Darmaki for their professionalism during the negotiations phase.

The Portuguese head coach revealed that he knows all the current players of the team and their potentials. “I had a personal meeting with each player and fully confident that we will all work together in the spirit of the one team. We will together achieve outstanding results that match the expectations of the fans whose aspirations never go below winning titles. My strategy is consistent with the Club’s vision, which looks at the second place is parallel to the last spot.”

The new head coach addressed a message to the Ainawi Nation saying: “I am so eager to see the fans behind the squad players in all the upcoming matches to achieve our unlimited aspirations this season. I do not doubt that we will make it and achieve the mutual goals at the local and continental levels.”

Commenting on a question about the team’s chances to compete to win the title despite the 8-point gap, he said: “I assumed my responsibilities today! I do know the big challenges waiting for me, but I will tackle them one by one. The most important thing for me at the moment is to win the next game to regain the players’ self-confidence and boost the team’s power. It is through victories we could improve the performance gradually. We are Al Ain and we always aspire to be the strongest team. We will all our matches, compete to be at the top spot, and clinch the title.”

He stressed that each time he was watching the matches of the UAE League, he was looking for Al Ain matches as it is the biggest team in the UAE and one of the best teams in Asia. “This is why I am here.”

He concluded his statement by saying: “I know the fans have great expectations and waiting for the Boss squad and the new coaching teams to win the opponents that definitely will boost the team’s power and increase the volume of the fans’ support. Al Ain is always in deep need of the fans’ support.”

Biography

Pedro Emanuel kicked off his career as a defender with Portuguese F.C. Marco before joining the French Ovarense Club in 1994 and then and F.C. Penafiel. Pedro then moved to Boavista FC and then to Porto in 2002. His always effective style earned him the confidence of his manager, and he played in both the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League finals won between 2003 and 2004. He quitted playing football in the season 2009/2010.

As for his professional career as a head coach, he earned an excellent reputation despite the massive challenges and achieved outstanding successes for his great charisma and quality skills. He kicked off his career as a coach as André Villas-Boas assistant manager of Porto FC. He gained significant experience in training and won the UEFA title in 2011.

Pedro was appointed at Villas Boas’ previous team Académica de Coimbra from June 2011 until April 2013. On 6 June 2013, Pedro Emanuel took over at recently promoted F.C. Arouca.

On 10 June 2015, Pedro Emanuel moved abroad for the first time in his career, taking over at Apollon Limassol of the Cypriot First Division; his team already included three compatriots. He won the Cup and Super Cup in his first season. Pedro Emanuel returned to his country and signed as manager of GD Estoril Praia.

On 4 August 2019, after spending one season as manager of Al-Taawoun FC and winning the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup.

Pedro Emanuel was appointed at the helm of Spanish Segunda División side UD Almería. He earned six victories, drew six and lost two matches, in spite of being placed second in the standings, he left by mutual agreement.

Name: Pedro Emmanuel
Nationality: Portuguese
Date of Birth: 11 February 1975
Clubs he trained: Académica de Coimbra (2010-2011), Apollon Limassol of the Cypriot First Division (2016-2016), GD Estoril Praia. (2017), Al-Taawoun FC (218-2019), UD Almería (2019).