Shockwave in UAE Football as Jose Morais Takes Charge at Sharjah

Shock in the UAE as Morais Joins Sharjah

Sharjah FC announced the appointment of Portuguese coach Jose Morais to lead the first team on a contract running through the remainder of the 2025-26 season and the 2026-27 campaign.

The signing followed chatter linking Morais to Sharjah after Al Wahda terminated his contract for personal reasons, in line with their agreement.

A Career of Trophies and a Mourinho Connection

Morais brings a trophy-laden résumé and a long coaching journey, including stints as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea, and leadership of clubs across the Arab world, such as Al Shabab and Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and Espérance Tunis in Tunisia.

He has collected six titles so far: two K League titles with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (2019, 2020), the Korean Cup with Jeonbuk (2020), the Saudi league with Al Hilal (2021), the Saudi Super Cup with Al Shabab (2015), and the Iranian Cup with Sepahan (2024).

Morais took charge of Al Wahda in June 2025, replacing Slovenian Darko Milanič, and now moves to Sharjah as the club pursues higher finishes in the ADNOC Pro League and continental ambitions.

Fans react with surprise as the UAE football landscape reshapes around a coach with a global trophy shelf and connections to some of the world’s top clubs.

Punchlines: If Morais can turn Sharjah into a trophy factory, even the locker-room coffee will taste like victory. And if not, at least the press conferences will be more entertaining than a soap opera.