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Wahda sack Boloni after two matches

ABU DHABI — Al Wahda coach Laszlo Boloni (in picture) was fired from the job late on Wednesday night, despite the defending champions defeating promoted club Ittihad Kalba 3-1 in the Etisalat UAE Pro-League at the Al Nahyan Stadium.

It seems his fate was decided even before the game got going on Wednesday night. Al Wahda had their worst possible start to the season, going down to relegated club Emirates 1-3 in the Super Cup, the season opener, two weeks ago. It wasn’t a mere blip as Al Wahda lost their League opener against Al Wasl 0-2 last week. Former Al Ain coaches Winfried Schaefer and Brazilian Tite are front runners for the job. Schaefer led Al Ain to a double in the 2008-2009 season, winning the prestigious President’s Cup and the Etisalat Emirates Cup.The German previously coached Cameroon apart from Dubai-based club Al Ahli.

Romanian Boloni, who took over from Austrian Josef Hickersberger, was tasked with defending the title as well lead them in the FIFA Club World Cup to be held in Abu Dhabi in December.

Al Wahda had earned qualification to the FIFA Club World Cup after they won the Etisalat UAE Pro-League last season, under Hickersberger. Hickersberger quit to take over as coach of the Bahrain National team.

Boloni had previously coached city rivals Al Jazira in 2007, where he led them to second place. He moved to Belgium where he led Standard Liege to the title in the 2008-2009 season.