Overview
- Gulf United announced on Monday that Andrés Iniesta has signed as their head coach, marking his first senior managerial role since retiring as a player in 2024.
- Iniesta holds an A coaching licence that allows him to manage in the UAE second tier and is actively pursuing the Pro Coaching Licence required for top-level jobs.
- He said he joined to learn, coach young players and give back to the game, emphasizing patient development, a clear playing idea and daily work with academy talent.
- Gulf United, founded in 2019, fields one of the youngest squads in the UAE First Division, finished 10th last season and positions itself as an ambitious, academy-driven private club.
- The appointment is likely to raise Gulf United’s profile and could boost attention on UAE youth development while providing Iniesta a staged pathway to higher-level management once he completes his Pro Licence.