With the kick-off of the 2026–27 ADNOC Pro League fast approaching, the technical landscape for the new season is taking shape, with 14 coaches bringing different experiences, achievements and ambitions into the campaign.
The coaching line-up features names who have enjoyed success with clubs and national teams, won domestic, continental and international honours, as well as coaches with extensive knowledge of UAE and Gulf football. Together, they enter a new season driven by competition and ambition.
As clubs prepare for the opening round, attention will not only be on players and new signings, but also on the men responsible for shaping tactics, managing pressure and turning ambition into results.
Serbian coach Vladimir Ivić, born on 7 May 1977, leads Al Ain into the new season following an exceptional 2025–26 campaign in which he guided the club to the ADNOC Pro League and UAE President’s Cup titles.
Ivić has built a diverse coaching career across several European leagues. One of his most notable spells came with Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki, whom he guided to the Greek Cup in 2017. He also took charge of English club Watford in 2020 before managing Krasnodar in the Russian Premier League between 2023 and 2024.
Brazilian coach André Jardine, born on 8 September 1979, takes charge of Shabab Al Ahli with an impressive record, highlighted by winning Olympic gold with Brazil at Tokyo 2020.
Jardine also won three consecutive Liga MX titles, claiming the Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024 and Apertura 2024 championships. His honours also include the Campeón de Campeones and the Mexican Super Cup in 2024, as well as the Campeones Cup that same year.
Portuguese coach Rui Vitória, born on 16 April 1970, leads Al Wasl after a successful coaching career at both club and international level.
During his time with Benfica from 2015 to 2019, Vitória won seven major trophies, including two consecutive Portuguese league titles. He later guided Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr to the 2018–19 Saudi Pro League title and the Saudi Super Cup, before taking charge of Spartak Moscow in 2021.
Vitória managed the Egyptian national team from 2022 to 2024, overseeing 18 matches and recording 12 victories, before taking charge of Greek side Panathinaikos during the 2024–25 period.
Romanian coach Cosmin Olăroiu, born on 10 June 1969, takes charge of Al Jazira following a long and successful career across Europe, the Gulf and Asia.
Olăroiu won the Romanian league and Super Cup with Steaua Bucharest and guided the club to the UEFA Cup semi-finals in 2006. He later led Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to the league title and two Crown Prince Cups between 2007 and 2009.
He won the Qatar Stars Cup with Al Sadd in 2010 before guiding Al Ain to consecutive UAE Pro League titles in 2012 and 2013. He also briefly took charge of the Saudi national team at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
Olăroiu went on to win several domestic honours with Shabab Al Ahli and guided the club to the 2015 AFC Champions League final. In China, he led Jiangsu Suning to the first Chinese Super League title in the club’s history in 2020.
He later guided Sharjah to the inaugural AFC Champions League Two title in 2025, in addition to winning several domestic trophies with the club. Olăroiu took charge of the UAE national team in April 2025 before his tenure ended in May 2026.
Brazilian coach Péricles Chamusca, born on 29 September 1965, leads Al Wahda, bringing extensive experience from across Gulf football.
Chamusca guided Saudi Arabia’s Al Faisaly to the first King’s Cup title in the club’s history. He also managed Al Taawoun across two spells, helping the club qualify for Asian competition twice.
With NEOM, he secured the club’s first-ever promotion to the Saudi Pro League. His coaching career in the region has also included spells with Al Hilal and Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia, as well as Al Gharafa and El Jaish in Qatar.
Serbian coach Miloš Milojević, born on 29 September 1982, takes charge of Al Nasr following several coaching experiences in the UAE and Europe.
Milojević managed Sharjah during the 2025–26 season, while his most notable spell in the UAE came with Al Wasl between 2023 and 2025. He guided the club to a historic domestic double in 2023–24, winning the ADNOC Pro League and UAE President’s Cup.
He also led Red Star Belgrade to the Serbian league and cup double in 2022–23. His career has included spells with Swedish clubs Malmö, Hammarby and Mjällby, winning the Swedish Cup with Malmö.
Serbian coach Goran Tufegdžić, born on 15 November 1971, continues at the helm of Ajman after establishing technical stability with the team, prompting the club to extend his contract for another season.
Tufegdžić enjoyed notable success with the Kuwait national team, guiding them to the Gulf Cup title in 2010 and the West Asian Football Federation Championship in the same year.
He also has extensive ADNOC Pro League experience, having previously managed Al Nasr, Al Wahda and Bani Yas.
Portuguese coach José Morais, born on 27 July 1965, leads Sharjah following a varied coaching career across several leagues.
Morais previously worked with Al Wahda in the UAE and guided Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal to the league title in 2021. He also won the Saudi Super Cup with Al Shabab in 2015 and had a spell with Al Hazem.
In South Korea, Morais managed Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and won three trophies with the club. He also guided Iran’s Sepahan to the Hazfi Cup and has previously managed Espérance de Tunis, in addition to a spell with Bodrum in Türkiye.
Abdulmajid Al Nemer, born on 15 June 1968, represents the Emirati coaching presence in the ADNOC Pro League this season as he leads Khorfakkan.
Al Nemer has previously managed several UAE clubs in the professional league, including Sharjah, in addition to his current spell with Khorfakkan. He enters the 2026–27 campaign looking to use his extensive knowledge of UAE football to meet a new challenge.
Romanian coach Daniel Isăilă, born on 29 June 1972, leads Bani Yas, drawing on considerable experience in UAE football.
Isăilă achieved historic success with Romania’s Astra Giurgiu, guiding the club to its first Romanian Cup and Romanian Super Cup titles. He later worked as an assistant coach with the Romanian senior national team before taking charge of Romania’s U21 side.
He also managed Saudi Arabia’s Al Hazem in the Saudi Pro League from 2018 until early 2020. In the UAE, Isăilă has managed Ajman and Khorfakkan, in addition to three separate spells in charge of Bani Yas.
Spanish coach Víctor Sánchez, born on 23 February 1976, takes charge of Kalba, bringing extensive European coaching experience to his new role.
Sánchez has managed several European clubs, including Deportivo La Coruña, Olympiacos, Real Betis and Málaga. He now begins a new chapter in his career in UAE football with Kalba.
Croatian coach Alen Horvat, born on 13 September 1973, leads Al Dhafra following previous coaching experiences in Saudi Arabia.
Horvat has managed Al Khaleej and Al Batin, while his most notable achievement came with Al Nassr, whom he guided to the Saudi Super Cup title in 2021. He now takes on a new challenge in the ADNOC Pro League with Al Dhafra.
Serbian coach Aleksandar Ilić, born in June 1969, leads Hatta following a coaching career that has included several national teams and clubs across the Arab world.
Ilić previously managed the Lebanon national team and also took charge of Al Raed and Al Ahli in Saudi Arabia. He guided Al Ahli to the King’s Cup of Champions title in 2011.
He later managed Al Qadsiah in 2022 before taking charge of Al Arabi in early 2024. His most recent UAE experience came with Al Orooba, where he served as head coach for part of the 2025–26 season.
Italian coach Andrea Pirlo, born on 19 May 1979, begins a new coaching experience with United after a managerial career that started with Juventus.
Pirlo guided Juventus to the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup titles before taking charge of Fatih Karagümrük in Türkiye and Sampdoria in Italy. He now begins a new chapter in his coaching career in UAE football with United.
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