Romanian legend Dan Petrescu was unveiled as the new coach of Al Arabi during a press conference at the club’s headquarters in Doha on Thursday.
The 46-year-old former international is replacing Brazilian coach Paulo César Gusmão who was the club’s seventh coach in the past three seasons, and he only spent four months at the club leading them to a fifth place finish.
Al Arabi is one of the most popular clubs in Qatar, and they arguably have the biggest fan base in the country, but their last success in the league goes back to the late nineties, a successful decade that saw them earning their current nickname of “The Dream Team”.
Petrescu is well aware of the pressure he will face at his new club.
“I know that Al Arabi is a big club with a big tradition, in the past few years they were struggling, and it is time to change this situation, but of course it will not only be about the coach, It will be a collective work of everyone including the club’s management, the players and also the fans” the former Chelsea winger told the local media.
“I like big challenges, I know the club finished fifth last season, and now we want a better position, I used to achieve that with my former clubs”.
During his 11 years as coach, Petrescu achieved great results with a number of clubs in Russia and Romania, including leading Kuban Krasnodar to promotion in Russia and then a Europa League spot, and also winning the league title in Romania with then newly promoted Unirea Urziceni.
Petrescu, who signed a two-year contract with Al Arabi, admitted that he had many offers from European clubs, and also from clubs in Saudi Arabia and UAE, but he preferred to sign for Al Arabi because it was the club where he felt that he was most wanted.
“They were keen on hiring me since a long time, and they were very direct and serious, II am very happy that’s I am here, it is time for a new challenge for me after 5 years in Russia and 5 in Romania and one in Poland” he added.
According to Petrescu, Russian giants Spartak Moscow and Scottish champions Celtic were among the clubs who were close of reaching a deal with him.
Petrescu, who part of the legendary Romanian side that reached the quarterfinals of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, will be keen on achieving similar results as his compatriot Cosmin Olaroiu, who won trophies in the Gulf region with clubs in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE.
“I hope I will win even half of what Cosmin Olaroiu won in this region, he is a good friend of mine, and the success he made here, was one of the factors that made me choose to go on my first adventure outside Europe, Qatar Stars League is a tough competition, and I am sure it will be a very good experience for me.”