Paulo Bento returned to Qatar on Monday, charged with taking a new side to continental glory at the AFC Asian Cup.
After leading South Korea to the Round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Portuguese boss is back as the head coach of the United Arab Emirates.
The Emirates reached the semi-finals in the last two editions of the Asian Cup 2015 and 2019.
But the UAE have never won the Asian Cup, with its best a result coming in 1996 when the Gulf nation lost in the final to Saudi Arabia in a penalty shootout.
Bento’s side will play in Group C with rivals Iran and surprise sides Hong Kong and Palestine.
The UAE open with Hong Kong, China on January 14th then will face Palestine on the 23rd before a much-anticipated final group fixture with Iran on the 23rd.
The AFC Asian Cup kicks off on Friday, January 12th.