What coach would not like to manage footballers of the stature of Fábio Martins, Éver Banega, Odion Ighalo or Alfred N'Diaye? It is the goal that he pursued for many years Carlos Inarejos (Gandía, 1984). After working in Gibraltar, Cyprus or France, the Spaniard landed in the Persian Gulf to enlist in the Saudi Al Hilal quarry. Later he went to Qatar to work at Al Ahli and, after a short experience as Raúl Caneda's assistant at Khor Fakkan, landed in a Al shabab that has allowed him to fulfill the dream of every technician. “I arrived to coach the U-23, but after Pedro Caixinha left, they asked me to take over the reins of the first team. I was getting good results with the subsidiary and I accepted it naturally,” discovers Inarejos, who changed teams but maintained his inertia winner. “The players came from a very tough defeat – they fell in the semifinals of the Arab Cup – and the first thing I did was try to be with them, be close, honest and give them confidence.” The result was tremendously positive: Carlos Inarejos grabbed Al Shabab in third position and, after chaining five games without losing, those from Riyadh lead the Saudi Professional League alone.
“When things go well is when you have to work the most,” explains Carlos, who has his team ahead of historical figures such as three-time AFC Champions League champion Al Hilal, Al Ittihad or Al Nasr but does not think about the possibility of winning the championship: “My goal is the next game. I go game by game and training to training because there are four or five clubs that are historically stronger and have very good players.” The Valencian, who was recently confirmed that, at least, he will direct Al Shabab until the end of the season, enjoys his current condition without neglecting that “in the Saudi First Division all games are complicated.” “We are talking about a competition that has footballers like Amrabat, Pity Martínez, André Carrillo, Giovinco, Gomis, Banega or Fábio Martins. They are footballers who could be playing in the Champions League “, discovers an Inarejos that places the Saudi Professional League” ahead of leagues in Eastern Europe such as the Romanian, the Polish or the Bulgarian “.
“Éver Banega, who is the captain, is the first to arrive and the last to leave”
Inarejos, Al Shabab coach
In Riyadh, Carlos Inarejos is at the helm of a team full of stars. Igor Lichnovsky, Alfred N'Diaye, Cristian Guanca, Odion Ighalo, Éver Banega, Fábio Martins … “It is a pleasure to manage footballers who are so sincere, honest and with so much desire to work. Éver, who is the captain, is the first that arrives and the last one that leaves. People still believe that he came here to retire, but nothing could be further from the truth. If a player comes to Saudi Arabia on vacation, it doesn't last three months. There is tremendous pressure to win every game“, discovers the Spaniard, who had to pack his bags because” in Spain there are many licenses and few benches. “Fortunately, Spanish coaches are highly valued abroad thanks to the successes of teammates like Benítez or Guardiola, who they have opened many doors for us. Opportunities appear and you have to take advantage of them, even if they involve leaving your comfort zone. If you really want to be a coach, it doesn't matter where you go, the most important thing is to be yourself and put your knowledge at the service of the team, “he reflects.
At 36 years old, Carlos Inarejos enjoys what is, until now, the great challenge of his career on the bench. Until a few days ago he was the only Spanish coach in the Saudi Professional League, but now he shares the limelight with Pablo Machin, who took over the reins of Al Ain this week. “His arrival in Arabia I love“, discovers the Valencian,” I want to congratulate him because that is the beauty of coaches: facing these kinds of challenges in life. What would become of us without these kinds of challenges? The most complicated are the most beautiful. “Al Ain is penultimate and is five points away from remaining, but Inarejos is sure that Machín” will change the dynamics. “They have Juanpi, Bastos and Bradaric and they are one of the teams that better is playing. I hope that luck will accompany you, because work will not be lacking for sure “, Inarejos predicts, who will not face his compatriot until next May:” Hopefully we both continue and we can enjoy a great 'Spanish derby' in Saudi Arabia”.