Defending Asian soccer champions Al-Ain have appointed Leonardo Jardim as their new head coach, replacing Hernan Crespo, who was sacked after a string of poor results.
Jardim, the former AS Monaco manager, has signed a contract until the end of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Jardim, who led Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and a remarkable Champions League semi-final in 2017, returns to the UAE after a successful stint with Shabab Al-Ahli, where he won the UAE Pro League title last year.
He also managed Al-Rayyan in Qatar for a season.
Crespo was dismissed following Al-Ain's heavy defeats, including a 5-1 loss to Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr in the Asian Champions League and a 3-0 loss to Egypt's Al-Ahly in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Al-Ain are currently eighth in the UAE Pro League and have just one point from four games in the Asian Champions League Elite.
Big target looms but South Africa are confident of chasing it down
De Bruyne joins Italian champions Napoli after Man City exit
Australia topple S Africa top order to take charge of WTC final
India tell Reddy to be ready for bigger bowling workload in England
Man City sign Dutch midfielder Reijnders ahead of Club World Cup
