This will be a major shake-up for UAE football fans.

Three major football clubs in Dubai will be merged into one entity, it has been announced.

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, has ordered that Al Shabab, Al Ahli and Dubai Clubs come together under the name “Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club” (it might be a challenge coming up with a catchy chant for that one, but we’re working on it).

More…
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*The new coach of Fujairah football club is… Diego Maradona*

Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, has been named as the chairman of the new club.

“Our objective is to build a club that can compete regionally and globally,” Sheikh Mohammed said, according to the Dubai Media Office.

According to The National, the UAE Football Association will hold an urgent meeting to discuss the implications of the merger on the Arabian Gulf League.

News of the merger comes a week after it was announced that Diego Maradona – widely regarded as the greatest footballer of all time – has signed a one-year contract as the coach of the Fujairah Football Club.

It looks like we could actually have an interesting inter-emirate competition on our hands …

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