An emotional Cosmin Olaroiu cast doubt on his future at Arabian Gulf League winners Al Ahli on Friday night, though club officials have moved to dampen talk of a rupturing exit from their coach.
Olaroiu, 46, launched an eight-minute tirade in the aftermath of the 2-2 draw with Bani Yas which saw him sent to the stands late on for vociferously protesting referee Ahmed Salim Khalfan’s decisions.
The ex-Al Ain supremo declined to take questions in the post-match press conference and instead detailed grievances – translated from his native Romanian – which appeared to point at him stepping aside.
He said: “I work where I am appreciated. In three years, we did great things – two Super Cups, two league titles, one Arabian Gulf Cup and reached four finals.
“Thanks to all my players for their efforts.
“I hope whoever is replacing me does well at Al Ahli and I hope the club does well after me.”
A gala evening to celebrate the Red Knights’ crowning as champions for a seventh time with two matches to spare disintegrated at the death.
Olaroiu has regularly fallen foul of officials since he arrived in the Emirates five years ago with the Boss.
Another eventful match for the Romanian saw him vigorously protest anchorman Khamis Esmail’s red card for two instantaneous bookings, before the failure to punish an alleged elbow from visiting midfielder Amer Abdulrahman on UAE team-mate Ismail Al Hammadi caused him to be dismissed.
Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, team supervisor Abdulmajeed Hussein pointed the finger at the referee and insisted Olaroiu was going nowhere.
He said: “I don’t want to talk about this, because I don’t know anything about this. Cosmin extended his contract for two more seasons and we are planning to win more trophies this season and next season.
“Maybe it’s because he is a little bit upset because of the referee, but I haven’t spoken to him. Always the referees kick him outside.
“If you’re a big coach, a trophy winner, a champion every time, but because of the referees’ mistake they send you off and there’s no respect, surely anyone would be upset.
“For sure, we have a plan to go forward with Cosmin. We plan for many things together.
“For us, he is our coach. I think he’s the best coach on the continent – he won the league trophy with Al Ain twice and with us, plus the Arabian Gulf Super Cup, Etisalat Cup, Arabian Gulf Cup. Maybe he is just angry with the referee.”
