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Ex-Al Ahli boss Quique Sanchez Flores set for Al Ain job
Quique Sanchez Flores is set for a sensational return to the UAE after emerging as Al Ain's No1 choice to replace Jorge Fossati.
And Sport360° understands the Spaniard could even be unveiled by Al Ain within the next 72 hours after agreeing a deal "in principle" to become their new boss on a two-year deal.
Sanchez Flores is currently working as a pundit for Spanish TV station TVE following his shock exit from Al Ahli at the end of last season.
The 48-year-old led Ahli to the Etisalat Cup and President's Cup in his 20 months in charge, but stood down at the Rashid Stadium citing a desire for a "new challenge".
A contender for the Malaga job before Bernd Schuster's eventual appointment, Sanchez Flores was also mooted for the AS Monaco job, owing to his agent Jorge Mendes' close links with the Principality club.
However, a return to the Emirates now looks to be in the offing with Sanchez Flores the man Al Ain have identified as their ideal candidate to replace Fossati, who was sacked last week just 49 days into his tenure.
And in an ironic twist, a move to the Tahnoun bin Mohammed Stadium will see Sanchez Flores take up the hotseat once occupied by the man who replaced him at Ahli in the summer, Cosmin Olaroiu.
Sanchez Flores' immediate task will be to appease Al Ain's players many of whom were unhappy with the playing style Fossati was so keen to adopt and which ultimately cost him his job.
The Spaniard's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation and penchant for expansive, attacking football is likely to strike an accord with the players he is set to inherit and the club's expectant fans.
His aim will then be to reel in early pacesetters Ahli and Al Shabab, both of whom have enjoyed 100 per cent starts to the new campaign, while improving the club's recent fortunes in the AFC Champions League in 2014.
Sanchez Flores' imminent arrival in the Garden City comes just days after it was reported that Eric Gerets, coach of Qatari side Lekhwiya, was in advanced talks with the club over the post.
However, the Belgian is understood to be reluctant to leave his current post while it appears Al Ain's interest in the 59-year-old was nothing more than that, with Sanchez Flores emerging as their favoured choice to take up the reins.
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