Former Ireland manager Vera Pauw appointed United Arab Emirates boss

"I want to write a new chapter in the history of the game with fantastic people around me in the UAE.”

Fri, 24 Jan, 2025 - 13:39

John Fallon

Seventeen months on from being controversially dismissed by the FAI, Vera Pauw is back on the international beat as manager of the United Arab Emirates.

Pauw became the first manager to lead Ireland to a major women’s tournament, the 2023 World Cup, but a combination of dressing-room mutiny and historical allegations of verbal abuse to players in the US – which she denies – blighted the trip to Australia.

Former Dutch international Pauw has been highly critical of the FAI since her contract wasn’t renewed at the end of August 2023, claiming they reneged on a contract renewal, but it’s only now the 62-year-old has finally landed a job.

فصل جديد يبدأ الآن 🔛

الهولندية فيرا باو تتولى تدريب منتخبنا للسيدات 🇦🇪⚽

A new chapter begins 📖

Dutch coach Vera Pauw takes charge of UAE Women's National Team 🇦🇪⚽#مرحبا_فيرا #WelcomeVera #WelkomVera pic.twitter.com/fgzV2udxTL
— UAE NT منتخب الإمارات (@UAEFNT) January 24, 2025

The UAE – renowned for issues around women’s rights – only started their female international team in 2010 and have sunk to their lowest Fifa ranking of 116 – within the bottom half of the 195-team table.

“I was the first female to hold the Uefa Pro-licence in the Netherlands,” said Pauw.

“I am proud of my journey that brought me from the Euros with the Netherlands to the Olympic Games with South Africa and a maiden appearance at the World Cup with Ireland.

“Now I want to write a new chapter in the history of the game with fantastic people around me in the UAE.”

They will compete for a place at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil through the Asian qualifiers.