Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa has entered the history of the Arabian Gulf League, leading Shabab Al-Ahli to their ninth title in its history, becoming the sixth coach to achieve victory in the championship in his first season on Emirati soil.
"The Dubai Knights" with Paulo Sousa on the coaching staff made history this season, winning their third title since the beginning of the year. Under Sousa, the team won the Super Cup, defeating Al-Wasl on penalties, then earned their second trophy, clinching the Super Emirates Cup against Al-Rayan, and ultimately became the champion.
The rising opportunities for Paulo Sousa include the chance to become the most successful coach in Shabab Al-Ahli's history in one season, although he lost in the final of the Cup and exited from the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League. However, if he wins the Cup, he will earn his fourth trophy in his first season with "The Dubai Knights" in an unprecedented achievement.
Shabab Al-Ahli is the most successful team in the championship with a coach, beginning its journey in the UAE, thrice holding the cup, at the time when clubs Al-Ain and Al-Wasl had been won by two and one times respectively.
The newcomers to the Shardji team, Lebanese Lorentz Kosmin, lead the list with two titles in the championship in their first season with Al-Ain and Shabab Al-Ahli. Pavel stands out among the rest as, along with two titles, he won the League of Champions with Al-Ain and Al-Wasl.
Portuguese Leonardo Jardim also joined the list, leading Shabab Al-Ahli to the title in the 2022-2023 season, which was the first victory together with the team. On the other hand, Serbian Milosh Milevic became the last to join the list, leading Al-Wasl to the eighth title in the history of "The Emperor", surpassing all previous coaches, becoming the only one to win both the championship and the President's Cup in the first season with the OAA football.
