Article by Romeo Ene – Published Saturday, May 30, 2026, 2:18 p.m. / Updated Saturday, May 30, 2026, 2:20 p.m.
Cosmin Olăroiu (56 years old) is no longer the selector of the national team United Arab Emirates. The decision to end the collaboration belonged to the Federation, which decided to give up the services of the Romanian technician.
Installed on the technical bench in April 2025, “Oli” received full credit from the Sheiks to achieve the big goal: qualifying for this summer's World Championship. The course of the team under his command was not the expected one.
Cosmin Olăroiu is no longer the United Arab Emirates coach
Six months after he missed the World Cup, the Federation's Board of Directors decided to dismiss the Romanian and his staff members.
“The Board of Directors of the Football Federation of the United Arab Emirates has decided to terminate the collaboration with the selector of the first national team, Cosmin Olăroiu, and with his technical staff.
The Federation thanks them for their efforts during the time they were active in the national team. The Football Federation will announce in the next period the new technical staff of the national team”, the representatives of the United Arab Emirates national team sent.
His tenure spanned 13 official and friendly matches and the figures recorded were as follows: 4 wins, 5 draws and 4 defeats.
The news of the dismissal caught Cosmin Olăroiu in Romania. The technician returned to Romania on Thursday to participate in the gala event of “UEFantastics”, the celebration that marks two decades since FCSB – Rapid, the “quarter” of the UEFA Cup.
Cosmin Olăroiu, 20 years after the quarter FCSB – Rapid // photo: Cristi Preda
FC Național, FCSB, Poli Timisoara, Al-Hilal, Al-Sadd, Al-Ain, Al-Ahli (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Shabab Al-Ahli, JS Suning, Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates are the teams that Cosmin Olăroiu has trained throughout his coaching career.
In Romania, he has a champion title with FCSB (2005-2006), a Supercup (2006-2007) and a Cup (2010-2011).
