Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
David O’Leary back in management
Monday 5th July 2010, 9:30AM BST.
Former Villa boss David O’Leary has ended his management exile by taking over the reins at Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.
It will be the 52-year-old Irishman’s first job since leaving Villa four years ago and he will link up with Italy international Fabio Cannavaro, who recently joined from Juventus, at the ambitious Pro League side.
Mark Bell, the club’s sporting director, said: “We can confirm that David O’Leary, a former Premier League manager with Champions League experience, has agreed to become the new coach of Al Ahli Football Club.”
O’Leary, who also guided Leeds to the Champions League semi-finals in 2001, took charge of Villa in June 2003 and steered them to sixth in the Premier League in his first season.
But their fortunes declined thereafter and he was the target of fierce criticism from supporters, before exiting to be replaced by Martin O’Neill after Villa finished 16th in the 2005/06 campaign.
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