Al-Ain appoint Leonardo Jardim as new manager

Defending Asian soccer champions Al-Ain have appointed Leonardo Jardim as their new head coach, replacing Hernan Crespo, who was sacked after a string of poor results.

Jardim, the former AS Monaco manager, has signed a contract until the end of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

Jardim, who led Monaco to the Ligue 1 title and a remarkable Champions League semi-final in 2017, returns to the UAE after a successful stint with Shabab Al-Ahli, where he won the UAE Pro League title last year.

He also managed Al-Rayyan in Qatar for a season.

Crespo was dismissed following Al-Ain's heavy defeats, including a 5-1 loss to Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr in the Asian Champions League and a 3-0 loss to Egypt's Al-Ahly in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.

Al-Ain are currently eighth in the UAE Pro League and have just one point from four games in the Asian Champions League Elite.