DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Al-Ain has parted ways with head coach Hernan Crespo, just under six months after he guided the club to victory in Asia’s prestigious Champions League.

The club’s decision follows a series of underwhelming performances, which were capped off by a devastating 5-1 defeat against Al-Nassr, a team featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, in the AFC Champions League Elite.
This loss means that Crespo, who had previously enjoyed a successful playing career with clubs like Inter Milan and Chelsea, will not have the opportunity to lead Al-Ain during the upcoming expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup, despite having played an essential role in qualifying the team for the event set to take place in the United States next summer.

Crespo’s coaching stint, which lasted just over a year, reached its pinnacle in May when he secured the Asian title against Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos in a two-legged final. However, the team has struggled this season, managing to secure only one point from their initial four matches in the current tournament.

In a statement, the club expressed gratitude to Crespo for his contributions but noted that “recent results have not met expectations.”
As of now, there has been no announcement regarding his successor for the 49-year-old coach.