United Football Club (Arabic: نادي يونايتد لكرة القدم) is an Emirati professional football club that was founded in September 2022 in Dubai. They currently play in the UAE First Division League. United FC got promoted from the UAE Second Division in the 2022–2023 season.[1]
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| Full name | United Football Club | |||
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| Founded | 1 September 2022 | |||
| Stadium | ISD Stadium Pitch | |||
| President | Ilie Cebanu | |||
| Head coach | Arno Buitenweg | |||
| League | UAE First Division League | |||
| 2023–24 | 5th | |||
| Website | https://utdfc.ae/ | |||
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History
editFounding
editThe club was founded in September 2022. It began its journey in UAE Second Division.
Season 2022/2023
editUnited FC did everything to get the promotion to UAE First Division League. The club invited some new players and coaches, who created new tactics for the team. The management set high goals and the team started showing great performance.
United FC became one of the favorites to be promoted. However, the end of the season was quite dramatic. Three clubs: Gulf United FC, Fleetwood United F.C. and United FC had the chance to play in UAE First Division League in the following season. The last two games were really important for United FC, where the club beat Fleetwood United F.C. and Al-Hilal United FC.
United FC finished the season on the 2nd place with the best offensive and defensive rating in the league. The club started and finished the second half of the season without losing any game.
International Summer Camp
editAfter the promotion, United FC had several friendly games against local clubs from UAE Pro League. The team showed its best against 2022-2023 champions Shabab Al Ahli Club, the club with the most championships Al Ain FC and 2023 cup champions Sharjah FC.
In June 2023 the club went to Moldova and spent the summer camp at the football base of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. United FC had some friendly matches against some professional Moldovan teams, such as Milsami Orhei, FC Petrocub Hîncești, CSF Bălți, FC Florești, Moldova national under-19 football team, FC Saxan and FC Dinamo-Auto Tiraspol.
After the summer camp, the team went back to Dubai and continued its preparation for the UAE First Division League. The club played a friendly game against Turkmenistan national football team in October 2023.[2] In early January 2024, United FC played another friendly match versus Latvian team, Riga FC.[3]
First Division League UAE
editDuring the transfer window a lot of changes were made. The new technical director Jean Marc Nobilo came. Also a lot of notable French specialists began working with United FC. The club also signed Marcelo Torres, Lucas Lima and Imade Osarenkhoe. Also, United FC extended the contracts Pape Gueye,[4] who is the best goalscorer of the UAE Second Division League 2022/2023 and Moussa Ouedraogo who was chosen the MVP of United FC by the team. The season started with the victory against Gulf United FC in UAE President Cup tournament.
Partnerships
editIn the summer of 2023, United FC signed the partnership deal with ISD. The ISD Stadium Pitch serves as home for United FC which is located in Dubai Sports City. ISD provides the team with the best conditions for training and progressing on and off the pitch.
Also the football legends, Marco Materazzi and Luca Antonini, attended the first home game in 2023–2024 season.
Also United FC signed sponsorships and partnerships with LF Group, Fix Price Group.
Current squad
editNote: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Personnel
editCurrent Technical Staff
edit| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head Coach |  Arno Buitenweg
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| Assistant Coach |  Ross Matthew Barry
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| Assistant Coach |  Carl Serrant
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| Fitness Coach |  Lazaro Ramirez Jose Luis
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| Goalkeeper Coach | Dennis Gentenaar
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Management
edit| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| President |  Ilie Cebanu
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| General Secretary |  Igor Bartyan
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Honours
edit- UAE Second Division League
- Promotion (2): 2022–23
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ جلف يوناتيد يُتوج بطلاُ للنسخة الأولى من دوري الدرجة الثالثة. UAE Football Association (in Arabic). Retrieved 2022-10-25.
- ^ "The Turkmenistan national football team continues training camps in the UAE". Orient. 2023-10-14. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ Upenieks, Krišs (2024-01-25). "First victory in Dubai". Riga FC. Retrieved 2024-03-27.
- ^ "Foot / Émirats : Pape Gueye Asensio, la jeune pépite sénégalaise qui fait exploser les compteurs" (in French). 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2024-03-27.