2014–15 Al Ain FC season
# 2014–15 Al Ain FC season

The 2014–15 season was Al Ain Football Club's 47th in existence and the club's 40th consecutive season in the top-level football league in the UAE.

## Season overview

### June

On 10 June, Al Ain announced its first two signing of the season by reached an agreement with Pohang Steelers to get Lee Myung-Joo for a three-year deal and Rashed Eisa for a one-season loan from Al Wasl FC in exchange deal of joining Salem Abdullah and Hazza Salem for loan. On 23 June, Al Ain agreed a contract extension with Waleed Salem, keeping him with the club for three more years. On 26 June, Alex Brosque leaves the club and return to Sydney FC, has signed a two-season deal and was presented on 1 July.

### July

On 3 July, Al Ain announce the signing of the Slovakian Miroslav Stoch from Fenerbahçe on one-year loan contract to become the third player joining the club. On 4 July, Team Supervisor, Mohammed Obeid Hammad, Stated that 20 players will leave the club, from the first team and most of them of the reserve team, after cancellation of the Reserve League and replaced by Under-21 Championship. Khaled and his younger brother Mohammed Abdulrahman signs a new extension 3 years with the club. Kembo Ekoko returned to the club after a one-year loan spell at the Qatari club El Jaish, also was called to join the club camp by Zlatko Dalić, to decide the 4th foreign player. On 9 July, Mohammed Salem became the third player loaned to Al Wasl FC, After Salem, Hazza. Sultan Nasser moved to promoted club Ittihad Kalba, for one season. Al Ain announce the signing of former Al Ahli Defender Mohammed Fawzi from Baniyas for three seasons along with the transfer of midfielder Bandar Al Ahbabi and Defender Abdulsalam Mohammed. He will wear the number 77 shirt. On the same day, Al Ain also announced that Kembo Ekoko will stay and will be the last foreign player. Later on the day, Mirel Rădoi moved to Al Ain rivals Al Ahli after end of his contract at the end of the 2013–14 season. Al Ain camp was supposed to be in Erzurum, Turkey. Due to bad weather they moved to Montecatini, Italy. On 11 July, Al Ain began its pre-season campaign against Italy 3rd Division side Montecatini FC. Al Ain won 2–0, goals coming from Faris Jumaa and Ibrahim Diaky, assisted by Bandar Al Ahbabi. On 14 July, Al Ain won in its second pre-season match against Folgore Falciano, with a 1–7, goals coming from a brace by Ryan Yslam and goals from Ibrahim Diaky, Mohamed Ahmed, Miroslav Stoch, Rashed Eisa and Khalid Khalfan. On 15 July, goalkeeper Yousif Abdelrahman moved to Fujairah for two seasons. On 17 July, Asamoah Gyan awarded Al Hadath Al Riyadi's golden boot for the third time in a row, After he scored 29 goals in 26 match in league. On 18 July, Al Ain beat Barnsley 2–1 in its third pre-season match, a brace by Kembo Ekoko. On 23 July, Al Ain played their fifth pre-season match in the Al Ain International Championship against Kuwait at the Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium in Al Ain. The match ended 4–0, coming from a brace by Kembo Ekoko and goals from Miroslav Stoch, Mohamed Abdulrahman. Kembo Ekoko named man of the match. On 24 July, Asamoah Gyan extending contract until 2018. Gyan joined Al Ain in 2011 from Sunderland on one season loan. On 6 July 2012 signed a five-year contract with club. He scored 103 goals in 92 match. Become Al Ain second top scorers in all competitions behind Ahmed Abdullah with 180. On 25 July, Al Ain won Al Ain International Championship in their sixth pre-season match after a draw with Al Nassr 1–1, with Al Ain only goal coming from Kembo Ekoko in the 72nd minute. Ahmed Barman named man of the match. Kembo Ekoko was top scorer of the Championship for scoring three goals. After the match Al Ain honored Asamoah Gyan as the top African goalscorer in the World Cup. He also ranked 35 on Goal 50 best footballers of the 2013–14 season, ahead of Paul Pogba and Robin van Persie. On 30 July, Al Ain announced renewed the contracts of four players Ahmed Barman, Mohamad Busanda, Saeed Mosabah, and Khalid Khalfan for long term contracts.

### August

On 5 August, Al Ain lose from Catania 0–3 in its sixth pre-season match. On 6 August, Faraj Juma moved on a 1-year loan deal to club Al Shaab. On 8 August, Al Ain win 2–1, in its seventh pre-season match against Al Wahda, a penalty goal from Asamoah Gyan and a second goal from Mohamed Abdulrahman. On 11 August, Al Ain win 1–0 in its last pre-season match against Moroccan club Raja Casablanca. The only goal coming from Asamoah Gyan in the 85th minute.

## Players

### First team squad

| No. | Position(s) | Name | Since | Date of Birth (Age) |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Goalkeepers ||||||
| 12 | GK | Waleed Salem | 2001 | (1980-10-28) 28 October 1980 (age 42) |
| 17 | GK | Khalid Eisa | 2013 | (1989-09-15) 15 September 1989 (age 33) |
| 22 | GK | Mahmood Al Mas | 2011 | (1983-09-08) 8 September 1983 (age 39) |
| 36 | GK | Dawoud Sulaiman | 2010 | (1990-03-21) 21 March 1990 (age 33) |
| Defenders ||||||
| 5 | CB | Ismail Ahmed | 2008 | (1983-07-07) 7 July 1983 (age 40) |
| 15 | LB | Khaled Abdulrahman | 2009 | (1988-09-10) 10 September 1988 (age 34) |
| 19 | CB | Mohanad Salem | 2008 | (1985-03-01) 1 March 1985 (age 38) |
| 21 | RB | Fawzi Fayez | 2007 | (1987-07-14) 14 July 1987 (age 36) |
| 23 | RB / CB | Mohamed Ahmed | 2012 | (1989-04-16) 16 April 1989 (age 34) |
| 44 | CB / RB | Faris Jumaa | 2007 | (1988-12-19) 19 December 1988 (age 34) |
| 50 | LB | Mohammed Fayez | 2007 | (1989-10-06) 6 October 1989 (age 33) |
| 77 | DM / RB / CB | Mohammed Fawzi | 2014 | (1990-02-22) 22 February 1990 (age 33) |
| Midfielders ||||||
| 4 | DM | Sultan Al Ghaferi | 2013 | (1986-09-18) 18 September 1986 (age 36) |
| 7 | RM / RW / AM | Ali Al-Wehaibi (VC) | 2001 | (1983-10-27) 27 October 1983 (age 39) |
| 8 | AM | Rashed Eisa | 2014 | (1990-08-24) 24 August 1990 (age 32) |
| 9 | RW / LW / SS | Kembo Ekoko | 2012 | (1988-01-08) 8 January 1988 (age 35) |
| 10 | LW / RW / AM | Omar Abdulrahman | 2008 | (1991-09-20) 20 September 1991 (age 31) |
| 18 | CM / AM / DM | Ibrahim Diaky | 2013 | (1982-05-24) 24 May 1982 (age 41) |
| 20 | DM / CM | Helal Saeed (C) | 2011 | (1982-03-24) 24 March 1982 (age 41) |
| 24 | DM / CM | Ahmed Barman | 2013 | (1994-02-05) 5 February 1994 (age 29) |
| 29 | DM / CM | Lee Myung-joo | 2014 | (1990-04-24) 24 April 1990 (age 33) |
| 30 | AM / RM | Mohammed Al Saadi | 2011 | (1982-10-28) 28 October 1982 (age 40) |
| 99 | LW / RW / AM | Miroslav Stoch | 2014 | (1989-10-19) 19 October 1989 (age 33) |
| Forwards ||||||
| 3 | CF | Asamoah Gyan | 2011 | (1985-11-22) 22 November 1985 (age 37) |
| 16 | CF / RW / LW / AM / CM / DM | Mohammed Abdulrahman | 2012 | (1989-02-04) 4 February 1989 (age 34) |

### From the youth squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 13 | FW | UAE | Khalefah Rashed |
| 31 | DF | UAE | Ahmad Salem |
| 33 | FW | UAE | Majed Ahmad |
| 35 | FW | UAE | Yousef Ahmed |
| 37 | DF | UAE | Rashed Muhayer |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 38 | DF | UAE | Saeed Mosabah |
| 39 | MF | UAE | Saqer Mohd |
| 43 | MF | UAE | Ryan Yslam |
| 40 | GK | UAE | Mohamad Busanda |
| 49 | DF | UAE | Salem Juma |

## Statistics

### Squad, appearances and goals

| No. | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Total | Total | League | League | Asia | Asia | Cup | Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Super Cup | Super Cup |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Nat | Player | Starts | Apps | Goals | Min | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | | Waleed.S | 1 | 1 | — | 95 | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 1 | — | 0 | — |
| 17 | | Khalid.E | 9 | 9 | — | 824 | 6 | — | 3 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — |
| 36 | | Dawoud | 0 | 1 | — | 29 | 0 | — | 1 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — |
| 40 | | Bu Senda | 1 | 1 | — | 94 | 0 | — | 0 | — | 0 | — | 1 | — | 0 | — |
| Defenders |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | | Ismail | 9 | 9 | 1 | 856 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | | Khaled.A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | | Mohanad | 5 | 6 | 2 | 486 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | | Fawzi | 5 | 6 | 0 | 476 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | | M. Ahmed | 7 | 7 | 0 | 575 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | | Saeed.M | 2 | 2 | 0 | 166 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | | Fares.J | 5 | 5 | 0 | 471 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 49 | | Salem.J | 2 | 2 | 0 | 155 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 50 | | Mohammed.F | 10 | 10 | 0 | 934 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | | M.Fawzi | 0 | 4 | 1 | 97 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Midfielders |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | | S. Al Ghaferi | 2 | 6 | 0 | 225 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | | Al Wehaibi (VC) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | | Rashed | 1 | 3 | 0 | 92 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | | Kembo | 8 | 8 | 3 | 612 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | | Omar.A | 5 | 5 | 1 | 433 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | | Diaky | 6 | 9 | 3 | 626 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | | Helal.S (C) | 4 | 5 | 0 | 384 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | | A.Barman | 6 | 10 | 0 | 597 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | | Lee.M.J | 9 | 9 | 0 | 831 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | | Mohammed.S | 0 | 2 | 0 | 96 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 43 | | Rayan.Y | 1 | 2 | 0 | 95 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 99 | | Stoch | 10 | 10 | 4 | 882 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | | Asamoah | 5 | 6 | 4 | 475 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | | H.Raqea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | | Khalefah.R | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | | Mohammed.A | 5 | 8 | 2 | 487 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | | Majed.A | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | | Yousef.A | 1 | 4 | 0 | 173 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Appearances = Total appearances |||||||||||||||||
| Last updated: 6 November 2014 |||||||||||||||||

### Squad Stats

| | League | Asia | Cup | League Cup | Super cup | Total Stats |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Games played | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Games won | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Games drawn | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Games lost | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Goals for | 15 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| Goals against | 7 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
| Goal by Substitute | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Players used | 84 | 56 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 168 |
| Yellow cards | 11 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| Red cards | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |

Last updated: 6 November 2014 Source: Competitive matches

### Goalscorers

| Rnk | No. | Pos | Nation | Player | League | League Cup | Champions League | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | 99 | MF | | M.Stoch | 3 | 1 | | 4 |
| — | 9 | MF | | Kembo | 3 | | 1 | 4 |
| — | 3 | FW | | Gyan | 2 | | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | 18 | MF | | Diaky | 2 | | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | 19 | DF | | Mohanad | 2 | | | 2 |
| — | 16 | FW | | Mohammed.A | 2 | | | 2 |
| 7 | 29 | MF | | Lee | | | 1 | 1 |
| — | 77 | DF | | M.Fawzi | 1 | | | 1 |
| — | 10 | MF | | Omar.A | | | 1 | 1 |
| — | 5 | DF | | Ismail | | | 1 | 1 |
| — | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | Own Goals | | | 1 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 15 | 1 | 8 | 24 |

Last updated: 6 November 2014

### Assists

| R | Player | Position | League | Champions League | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Miroslav Stoch | LW | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| — | Mohammed Abdulrahman | CF | 3 | | 3 |
| — | Kembo Ekoko | SS | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Omar Abdulrahman | AM | | 2 | 2 |
| — | Asamoah Gyan | CF | 2 | | 2 |
| 6 | Fawzi Fayez | RB | 1 | | 1 |
| — | Helal Saeed | DM | 1 | | 1 |
| — | Mohamed Ahmed | RB | | 1 | 1 |
| — | Khalid Eisa | GK | | 1 | 1 |

Last updated: 27 October 2014

### Disciplinary record

| N | P | Name | League | League | League Cup | Champions League | Champions League | Total | Total | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 3 | FW | Gyan | | | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| 4 | MF | S. Al Ghaferi | 1 | | 1 | | | 2 | | |
| 5 | DF | Ismail | 2 | | | | | 2 | | |
| 9 | MF | Kembo | | | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 10 | MF | Omar.A | 1 | | | 1 | | 2 | | |
| 16 | MF | Mohammed.A | 2 | | | | | 2 | | |
| 17 | GK | Khalid.E | | | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| 18 | MF | Diaky | 1 | | | | | 1 | | |
| 20 | MF | Helal | 1 | | | | | 1 | | |
| 23 | DF | M. Ahmed | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | 2 | 1 | |
| 24 | MF | Barman | | | 1 | 1 | | 2 | | |
| 38 | DF | Saeed.M | | | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 44 | DF | Fares.J | | | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 49 | DF | Salem.J | | | 1 | | | 1 | | |
| 99 | MF | M.Stoch | 1 | | 1 | 1 | | 3 | | |

Last updated: 6 November 2014 Source: Competitive matches and AGLeague.ae Only competitive matches Ordered by , and = Number of bookings; = Number of sending offs after a second yellow card; = Number of sending offs by a direct red card.

## Pre-season and friendlies

Win  Draw  Loss

### Goals and assists

| Player | Goals |
| - | - |
| Kembo Ekoko | 5 |
| Mohammed Abdulrahman | 3 |
| Faris Jumaa | 2 |
| Rashed Eisa | 2 |
| Asamoah Gyan | 2 |
| Miroslav Stoch | 2 |
| Ibrahim Diaky | 2 |
| Ryan Yslam | 2 |
| Lee Myung-joo | 1 |
| Khalid Khalfan | 1 |
| Mohamed Ahmed | 1 |
| Player | Assists |
| Bandar Al Ahbabi | 2 |
| Kembo Ekoko | 1 |
| Miroslav Stoch | 1 |
| Lee Myung-joo | 1 |
| Ismail Ahmed | 1 |
| Ahmed Al Shamisi | 1 |
| Yousef Ahmed | 1 |

## Competitions

### Overall

| Competition | Started round | Current position / round | Final position / round | First match | Last match |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Arabian Gulf Super Cup | Final | — | | | |
| Arabian Gulf League | — | 4 | | 20 September 2014 | |
| Arabian Gulf Cup | Group stage | — | | 9 October 2014 | |
| UAE President's Cup | — | — | | | |
| AFC Champions League | Group stage | — | Semi-finals | 26 February 2014 | 30 September 2014 |

Updated to match played 27 October 2014 Source: Competitions

### UAE Pro-League

**League table**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Al Ain (C) | 26 | 18 | 6 | 2 | 62 | 19 | +43 | 60 | Qualification to the 2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage |
| 2 | Al Jazira | 26 | 16 | 3 | 7 | 66 | 46 | +20 | 51 | Qualification to the 2016 AFC Champions League Qualifying play-off |
| 3 | Al-Shabab Al-Arabi | 26 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 49 | 35 | +14 | 49 | Qualification to the 2016 AFC Champions League Second Qualifying Round |
| 4 | Al Wahda | 26 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 44 | 32 | +12 | 47 | |
| 5 | Al-Nasr | 26 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 43 | 32 | +11 | 39 | Qualification to the 2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage |

* ↑ Al-Nasr qualifies for 2016 AFC Champions League Group Stage as winners of 2014–15 UAE President's Cup.

**Results summary**

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Last updated: 27 October 2014. Source: Competitive matches

**Results by round**

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | P | W | W | P | L | W | W | D | D | W | W | W | W | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Position | | 5 | 3 | | 7 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### UAE Arabian Gulf Cup

**Group A**

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Al Shabab | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
| Al Nasr | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| Al Jazira | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 |
| Kalba | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 3 |
| Ajman | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Al Wasl | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 |
| Al Ain | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |

**Matches**

Last updated: 6 November 2014 Source: AGLeague.ae

### AFC Champions League

**Group B**

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | AIN | NAF | PAK | SHB |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Al-Ain | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2 | +5 | 12 | Advance to knockout stage | — | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| 2 | Naft Tehran | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 8 | Advance to knockout stage | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| 3 | Pakhtakor | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 6 | | 0–1 | 2–1 | — | 0–2 |
| 4 | Al-Shabab | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 5 | | 0–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | — |

**Knockout phase**

**Round of 16**

3–3 on aggregate. Al-Ahli won on away goals.

