2008–09 UAE Pro League

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}

The 2008–09 UAE Pro League season was the 34th edition of top level football in the United Arab Emirates and started on 19 September 2008 until 24 May 2009.

Al-Ahli clinched the championship on the last day of the season, one of the most exciting campaigns for a number of years and also qualified for the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup as the host representative.

Al-Shabab were defending champions from the 2007–08 campaign.

Emirates and Hatta were relegated from the previous season.

Ajman and Al-Khaleej were promoted from the second level.

The winners of the league qualified for the 2009 edition of the FIFA Club World Cup as the host representative.

Clubs

{{Location map+ |United Arab Emirates |width=400 |float=right |caption=Locations of teams in the 2016–17 UAE Pro League |places=

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Ahli |lat=25.279722 |long=55.360556 |position=center |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Jazira |lat=24.452764 |long=54.392019 |position=left |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Ain |lat=24.245594 |long=55.716583 |position=left |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Wahda |lat=24.469397 |long=54.375254 |position=top |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Shabab |lat=25.290833 |long=55.348333 |position=top |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Nasr |lat=25.24 |long=55.313056 |position=bottom |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Wasl |lat=25.218889 |long=55.317222 |position=right |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Dhafra |lat=23.666626 |long=53.696687 |position=left |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Ajman |lat=25.41667 |long=55.50000 |position=top |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Sharjah |lat=25.333333 |long=55.419444 |position=right |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Shaab |lat=25.374167 |long=55.423056 |position=left |mark=Red pog.svg}}

{{Location map~ |United Arab Emirates |label=Khaleej |lat=25.33 |long=56.343911 |position=top |mark=Red pog.svg}}

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

! Club

! Coach

! Nationality

! City

! Stadium

! 2007–2008 season

! Notes

Al-Shabab

| Toninho Cerezo

| {{flagicon|Brazil}}

| Dubai

| Al Maktoum Stadium

| UAE League Champions

| AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier

Al-Jazira

| Abel Braga

| {{flagicon|Brazil}}

| Abu Dhabi

| Al Jazira Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium

| 2nd in UAE League

| AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier

Al-Ahli

| Ivan Hašek

| {{flagicon|Czech Republic}}

| Dubai

| Rashed Stadium

| 3rd in UAE League

| AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier

Al-Sharjah

| Youssef Al Zawawi

| {{flagicon|Tunisia}}

| Sharjah

| Sharjah Stadium

| 4th in UAE League

| AFC Champions League 2009 Qualifier

Al-Shaab

| Luka Peruzović

| {{flagicon|Croatia}}

| Sharjah

| Khalid Bin Mohammed Stadium

| 5th in UAE League

| 2008–09 Arab Champions League Qualifier - Later Withdrew

Al-Ain

| Winfried Schäfer

| {{flagicon|Germany}}

| Al Ain

| Sheikh Khalifa International Stadium

| 6th in UAE League

Al-Wasl

| Miroslav Beránek

| {{flagicon|Czech Republic}}

| Dubai

| Zabeel Stadium

| 7th in UAE League

Al-Wahda

| Ahmad Abdulhaleem

| {{flagicon|Egypt}}

| Abu Dhabi

| Al-Nahyan Stadium

| 8th in UAE League

Al-Nasr

| Luka Bonačić

| {{flagicon|Croatia}}

| Dubai

| Al-Maktoum Stadium

| 9th in UAE League

Al-Dhafra

| Mohammad Kwid

| {{flagicon|Syria}}

| Dhafra

| Al Dhafra Stadium

| 10th in UAE League

Ajman

| Abdul Wahab Abdul Qader

| {{flagicon|Iraq}}

| Ajman

| Ajman Stadium

| Promoted

Al-Khaleej

| Sammir Juwaili

| {{flagicon|Tunisia}}

| Khor Fakkan

| Al Baladi Stadium

| Promoted

Managerial changes

class="wikitable"
Team

! Outgoing manager

! Manner of departure

! Replaced by

Al-Wasl

|{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Miroslav Beranek

| Sacked[http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168165465.html Al Wasl sack Czech coach]

|{{flagicon|BRA}} Hélio dos Anjos

Al-Wahda

|{{flagicon|Egypt}} Ahmad Abdulhaleem

| Sacked[http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168394797.html Austrian coach for faltering Wahda]

|{{flagicon|Austria}} Josef Hickersberger

Al-Dhafra

|{{flagicon|Syria}} Mohammad Kwid

| Resigned[http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168395426.html Kwid resigns]

|{{flagicon|UAE}} Eid Baroot

Al-Sharjah

|{{flagicon|Tunisia}} Youssef Al Zawawi

| Resigned after 11 games[http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168526660.html Sharjah setback ahead of play-off]

|{{flagicon|Portugal}} Toni Oliveira

Al-Wasl

|{{flagicon|BRA}} Hélio dos Anjos

| Sacked

|{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Jaroslav Horák

Ajman

|{{flagicon|Iraq}} Abdul Wahab Abdul Qader

| Sacked [http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168690325.html Ajman replace coach]

|

Al-Sharjah

|{{flagicon|Portugal}} Toni Oliveira

| Sacked after 'poor results' [http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168690325.html Beleaguered Sharjah sack coach]

|{{flagicon|Iraq}} Abdul Wahab Abdul Qader

Al-Ahli

|{{flagicon|Czech Republic}} Ivan Hašek

| Quit after winning championship [http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168722446.html Hasek quits as Ahli coach]http://www.the-afc.com/en/news-centre/member-association-news/279-ir-iran/24680-madanchi-joins-uae-champs-ahli Romanian Ioan Andone replaced Czech Ivan Hasek last month (June)

|{{flagicon|Romania}} Ioan Andone

Foreign players

class="wikitable"

! width ="175" | Club

! width ="175" | Player 1

! width ="175" | Player 2

! width ="175" | Player 3

! width ="175" | Player 4

! width ="175" | Former players

Ajman

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Ali Samereh

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Javad Kazemian

| {{flagicon|Morocco}} Abdelhaq Ait Laarif

| {{flagicon|Morocco}} Mohamed Berrabeh

|

Al-Ahli

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Baré

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Clederson

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Osvaldo

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Milad Meydavoudi

| {{flagicon|Argentina}} Jorge Artigas
{{flagicon|Egypt}} Hosny Abd Rabo

Al-Ain

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} André Dias

| {{flagicon|Chile}} Jorge Valdivia

| {{flagicon|Morocco}} Soufiane Alloudi

| {{flagicon|Senegal}} André Senghor

|

Al-Dhafra

| {{flagicon|Algeria}} Toufik Zerara

| {{flagicon|Togo}} Mohamed Kader

|

|

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Mehdi Rajabzadeh
{{flagicon|Iran}} Rasoul Khatibi

Al-Jazira

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Fernando Baiano

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Márcio Rozário

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Rafael Sóbis

| {{flagicon|Iraq}} Mohammed Ali Karim

| {{flagicon|Mali}} Mamadou Diallo

Al-Khaleej

| {{flagicon|Morocco}} Mourad Rafal

| {{flagicon|Morocco}} Rabii Houbri

| {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Abass Lawal

| {{flagicon|Tunisia}} Anis Boujelbene

|

Al-Nasr

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Claudinho

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Mehrzad Madanchi

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Mohammad Nosrati

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Reza Enayati

| {{flagicon|Nigeria}} Endurance Idahor
{{flagicon|Qatar}} Mohammed Salem Al-Enazi

Al-Shaab

| {{flagicon|Ghana}} Godwin Attram

| {{flagicon|Morocco}} Merouane Zemmama

| {{flagicon|Sierra Leone}} Mohamed Kallon

|

|

Al-Shabab

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Marcos Assunção

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Renato Abreu

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Mehrdad Oladi

| {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Musawengosi Mguni

|

Al-Sharjah

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Anderson Barbosa

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Jean

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Roberto Lopes

| {{flagicon|Iraq}} Hussein Alaa Hussein

|

Al-Wahda

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Pinga

| {{flagicon|Iraq}} Ali Salah Hashim

| {{flagicon|Morocco}} Amin Erbati

| {{flagicon|Senegal}} Matar Coly

| {{flagicon|Bahrain}} Abdulla Al-Dakeel
{{flagicon|Brazil}} Alecsandro
{{flagicon|Tunisia}} Karim Aouadhi

Al-Wasl

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Alexandre Oliveira

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Reiner Ferreira

| {{flagicon|Iran}} Iman Mobali

| {{flagicon|Italy}} Fabio Firmani

| {{flagicon|Brazil}} Rogerinho
{{flagicon|Ivory Coast}} Zeka Goore

Standings

{{#invoke:sports table|main|style=WDL

|res_col_header=QR

|show_limit=5

|team1=AHL|name_AHL=Al-Ahli

|team2=JZR|name_JZR=Al Jazira

|team3=AIN|name_AIN=Al Ain

|team4=WAH|name_WAH=Al-Wahda

|team5=SHB|name_SHB=Al Shabab

|team6=NSR|name_NSR=Al Nasr

|team7=WSL|name_WSL=Al Wasl

|team8=DHA|name_DHA=Al-Dhafra

|team9=AJM|name_AJM=Ajman

|team10=SHR|name_SHR=Al Sharjah

|team11=SHA|name_SHA=Al-Shaab

|team12=KHL|name_KHL=Al Khaleej Club

|win_AHL=17|draw_AHL=4|loss_AHL=1|gf_AHL=54|ga_AHL=25|status_AHL=C

|win_JZR=17|draw_JZR=3|loss_JZR=2|gf_JZR=57|ga_JZR=17

|win_AIN=12|draw_AIN=7|loss_AIN=3|gf_AIN=40|ga_AIN=20

|win_WAH=10|draw_WAH=4|loss_WAH=8|gf_WAH=40|ga_WAH=39

|win_SHB=8|draw_SHB=4|loss_SHB=10|gf_SHB=33|ga_SHB=37

|win_NSR=6|draw_NSR=8|loss_NSR=8|gf_NSR=37|ga_NSR=40

|win_WSL=7|draw_WSL=5|loss_WSL=10|gf_WSL=38|ga_WSL=45

|win_DHA=5|draw_DHA=9|loss_DHA=8|gf_DHA=32|ga_DHA=32

|win_AJM=7|draw_AJM=3|loss_AJM=12|gf_AJM=21|ga_AJM=39

|win_SHR=6|draw_SHR=4|loss_SHR=12|gf_SHR=31|ga_SHR=45

|win_SHA=5|draw_SHA=3|loss_SHA=14|gf_SHA=23|ga_SHA=37|status_SHA=R

|win_KHL=4|draw_KHL=2|loss_KHL=16|gf_KHL=21|ga_KHL=51|status_KHL=R

|col_C=#FEDCBA|text_C=2009 Club World Cup and 2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage

|result1=C

|col_CLGS=#ACE1AF|text_CLGS=2010 AFC Champions League Group Stage

|result2=CLGS|result3=CLGS

|col_ACLQ=#D0F0C0|text_ACLQ=2010 AFC Champions League Qualifying play-off

|note_res_ACLQ=Since Al-Ain also won the 2008–09 UAE President's Cup, the fourth-placed team of the league also qualified for the 2010 AFC Champions League.

|result4=ACLQ

|col_GCCC=#97DEFF|text_GCCC=2009–10 Gulf Club Champions Cup

|result5=GCCC|result7=GCCC

|col_R=#FFCCCC|text_R=Relegation to 2009–10 UAE League Division 1

|result11=R|result12=R

|class_rules=1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

|update=complete

|source=[https://www.uaeproleague.ae/en/standings]

}}

{{winners||UAE League 2008–09 winners|Al-Ahli|5th}}

Top goalscorers

Source: [http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=3962&scorers=true goalzz.com]

;25 goals

;13 goals

;12 goals

;11 goals

;9 goals

References

{{reflist}}