2008–09 UAE Pro-League

The 2008–09 UAE League season was the 34th edition of top level football in the United Arab Emirates and started on the 19 September 2008 until 24 May 2009.

Al-Ahli clinched the championship on the last day of the season, one of the most exciting campaigns for a number of years and also qualified for the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup as the host representative.

Al-Shabbab ACD were defending champions from the 2007–08 campaign.

Emirates Club and Hatta were relegated from the previous season. Ajman Club and Al-Khaleej Club (Sharjah) were promoted from the second level.

The winners of the league qualified for the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup as the host representative.

Contents

Members clubs

Club Coach Nationality City Stadium 2007-2008 season Notes
Al-Shabbab ACD Toninho Cerezo Dubai Al Maktoum Stadium UAE League Champions AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier
Al-Jazira Club Abel Braga Abu Dhabi Al Jazira Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium 2nd in UAE League AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier
Al-Ahli Ivan Hašek Dubai Rashed Stadium 3rd in UAE League AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier
Al-Sharjah Youssef Al Zawawi Sharjah Sharjah Stadium 4th in UAE League AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier
Al-Shaab Luka Peruzović Sharjah Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium 5th in UAE League Arab Champions League 2008-09 Qualifier - Later Withdrew
Al-Ain Winfried Schäfer Al Ain Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium 6th in UAE League
Al-Wasl Miroslav Beránek Dubai Zabeel Stadium 7th in UAE League
Al-Wahda Ahmad Abdulhaleem Abu Dhabi Al-Nahyan Stadium 8th in UAE League
Al-Nasr Luka Bonačić Dubai Al-Maktoum Stadium 9th in UAE League
Al Dhafra Mohammad Kwid Dhafra Al Dhafra Stadium 10th in UAE League
Ajman Club Abdul Qader Ajman Ajman Stadium Promoted
Al-Khaleej Sammir Juwaili Hamah Al Baladi Stadium Promoted

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Replaced by
Al-Wasl Miroslav Beranek Sacked[1] Hélio dos Anjos
Al-Wahda Ahmad Abdulhaleem Sacked[2] Josef Hickersberger
Al Dhafra Mohammad Kwid Resigned[3] Eid Baroud
Al-Sharjah Youssef Al Zawawi Resigned after 11 games[4] Toni Oliveira
Al-Wasl Hélio dos Anjos Sacked Jaroslav Horák
Ajman Club Abdul Qadir Abdul Wahab Sacked [5]
Al-Sharjah Toni Oliveira Sacked after 'poor results' [6] Abdul Qadir Abdul Wahab
Al-Ahli Ivan Hašek Quit after winning championship [7][8] Ioan Andone

Standings

Pos
Team
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Pts
Qualification or relegation
1 Al-Ahli (C) 22 17 4 1 54 25 +29 55 2010 AFC Champions League Group stage 1
2 Al Jazira 22 17 3 2 57 17 +40 54 2010 AFC Champions League Group stage 2
3 Al Ain 22 12 7 3 40 20 +20 43
4 Al-Wahda 22 10 4 8 40 39 +1 34 2010 AFC Champions League Qualifying play-off 2
5 Al Shabab 22 8 4 10 33 37 −4 28
6 Al Nasr 22 6 8 8 37 40 −3 26
7 Al Wasl 22 7 5 10 38 45 −7 26
8 Al Dhafra S.C.C. 22 5 9 8 32 32 0 24
9 Ajman 22 7 3 12 21 39 −18 24
10 Al Sharjah 22 6 4 12 31 45 −14 22
11 Al-Shaab (R) 22 5 3 14 23 37 −14 18 Relegation to 2009–10 UAE League Division 1
12 Al-Khaleej (R) 22 4 2 16 21 51 −30 14

Source: [1]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
1League champions Al-Ahli also qualified for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup play-off stage.
2Since Al-Ain also won the 2008–09 UAE President's Cup, the fourth-placed team of the league also qualified for the 2010 AFC Champions League.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.

UAE League 2008–09 Winners
Al-Ahli
5th Title

Top goalscorers

Source: goalzz.com

25 goals
13 goals
12 goals
11 goals
9 goals

References

External links