May 16, 2025

Make no mistake about it – despite home advantage, and our Sailors’ fairy-tale run to the final, Sharjah FC enters the final still as favourites. However, this represents an unprecedented opportunity for our Sailors to make history (again), and in this preview, I’ll tell you why I think it might happen (be warned, it’s a long read). But first, the lowdown on our opponents from Joseph Chin, once again. The Lowdown on Sharjah FC by Joseph Chin Origin Sharjah was founded as al-Oruba Club in the Emirate of Sharjah back in 1966, predating the modern country we known as the United Arab Emirates (it was known back then as the Trucial States, built upon a complex relationship between the seven component Emirates and a rapidly decolonizing Britain that led to its independence in 1971). As the first official champions of the newly formed UAE League in 1974, their subsequent merger of the Khaleej club within the district and its consolidation as the main club in its Emirate saw them reign four more times as champions and provide 8 players in the UAE’s sole appearance at the World Cup in 1990. Their high point was the 1991 victory in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) Champions League, reigning supreme in a tournament amongst Arab clubs. Its modern history was marked by their first ever relegation in 2012, a wake-up call that was heeded as they finally started challenging for honours again towards the current decade, with 2 Presidents Cups and a 2019 league win. Famous Signings Miralem Pjanic: The first brand name signing in the modern era for the club, the former Juventus winger did play a part in winning silverware for the club, kickstarting its current upwardly mobile phase. Timur Kapadze: Well known to keen watchers of Asian football, the Uzbek centurion briefly appeared for Sharjah before finally retiring in the Uzbek league. Man In the Hot Seat Cosmin Olaroiu will leave Sharjah after this season, his achievements having secured the job of the head coach of the UAE National Team, just in time for the June World Cup qualifiers. As a player, The former centre-back does enjoy a more glowing reputation across Asia than in his home country of Romania, having served Suwon Bluewings with distinction as a two time K-League winner (in 1998 and 1999). As a manager, Olaroiu’s two stints with Bucharest giants National (where he was also a player) and Steaua in the volatile Romanian League prepared him for appointments as varied as Al Hilal, Al Sadd, the Saudi National Team and the defunct CSL champions Jiangsu Suning, places where impatience is the only constant. Even though he won Steaua Bucharest it is in the Middle East (Qatar and UAE) where his coaching abilities are best appreciated, having maintained a streak of winning silverware at each of his club stints since Steaua. Highlights include his serial league winners Al Ain and the 2014 treble of Shabab al Ahli that was the catalyst for its AFC Champions League final appearance in 2015. He is a serial winner – let’s make sure he doesn’t add to his count on Sunday. Dangermen Adel Taarabt: Having revived his career with Al Nasr in Dubai after a roller coaster European career that saw great success at QPR and Benfica, as well as abject failure at Tottenham and Milan, the Moroccan international brings big game experience to the team as one of their marquee players with European experience. Not as dangerous as Caio, but still a very good player on his day. Cho Yu-min: A familiar face to seven of our Lions, having featured in the June 2024 WCQ where we lost 7-0 to star studded South Korea, Hariss, Song and Co will be looking to avenge that defeat on the grandest of stages. Appearing in the 2022 World Cup with South Korea, the former Daejeon centre-back is now a regular starter for both club and country. One of the many former K-League stars now plying their trade in Arabia, away from the domestic press corps that seem to be more interested in his famous Kpop idol singer wife. Caio, Luanzinho, Marcus Meloni and Guilherme Biro: Collectively, these Brazilians represent the single biggest threat in midfield. The first three are now naturalized Emiratis playing a role in the UAE NT after satisfying FIFA residency rules, and it is likely that age-group international Biro will eventually look to follow suit once his loan move from Corinthians is made permanent. Caio is the pick of the bunch – he is their top-scorer and has 19 goals from 35 games, including 5 in the ACL2. He has also racked up 8 assists. Tyrone Conraad: while the former Feyenoord youth product hasn’t had the best of senior careers, the Suriname international’s time at the Eerste Divisie might provide solutions to counter the distinctly Dutch flavour of our football, especially as a viable wildcard option in attack from the bench. Leon Dajaku: Not a dangerman so far, but just an interesting thing to note. Leon was Bailey Wright’s team mate in Sunderland (2021-2023) and would probably want to prove a point against his former captain. Sharjah’s most recent signing to replace Paco Alcacer might be the secret weapon to turn things around late on. The former Bayern Munich reserve winger has been used sparingly from the bench since coming in from Croatia, but has experience in the Bundesliga with Union Berlin and in European competition with Hajduk Split. The Pitch Saga Thank you to Joseph for weighing in as he always does. It’s been such a joy reading his lowdowns on this ACL2 run, and I hope we get to see more over the coming years! But now, back to me, and let’s bring our minds back to Sharjah moaning about our pitch. You’ll remember of course, that Sharjah FC was so scared of Jalan Besar Stadium, and the illustrious opponents that we’ve dispatched there, that they put out an open letter addressed to AFC, demanding that