Qassim Derby coaches with shared past go head-to-head in RSL | OneFootball

Although they have never met directly as rival managers, Odair Hellmann will, in a sense, know Rodolfo Arruabarrena well.

The Brazilian is a successor of sorts to the Argentine, coming during his time in the Al Wasl dugout in the UAE, when Hellmann took charge of a team built largely by Arruabarrena.

Undeniably, the former benefitted from latter’s tenure at the Dubai club. Hellmann arrived at Al Wasl in December 2020, little more than two years and two full-time managers after Arruabarrena departed.

During his time in the Emirates, Arruabarrena lifted what was largely a flagging-but-historic club to the verge of silverware. Appointed in July 2016 – his first experience of Gulf football – the former Boca Juniors and Villarreal full-back guided Al Wasl to second- and third-place finishes in the UAE top flight. He also reached the finals of both the UAE President’s Cup and League Cup before leaving in June 2018.

As his replacement, Gustavo Qinteros’ short reign was followed by former Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Tai manager Laurentiu Reghecampf taking charge, but his tenure eventually concluded without success and paved the way for Hellmann to succeed him. Like Arruabarrena, it represented the former defensive midfielder’s introduction to football in the region.

Hellmann would not quite hit the heights of Arruabarrena, though, even if he did lead Al Wasl to a respectable sixth-placed finish in his only full season at Zabeel Stadium.

Yet, the Gulf bug had clearly bitten. Hellmann returned to his homeland briefly and spent seven months at Santos before moving to the Roshn Saudi League. In October last year, he was installed as Al Riyadh manager, in effect replacing Belgian Yannick Ferrera.

Ultimately, Hellmann carried the struggling capital club to survival when they more than flirted with relegation; the 2-1 victory at Al Khaleej on the final day secured Al Riyadh’s RSL status. Yet, having failed to agree on a contract extension, in July Hellmann was announced as the man selected to steer Al Raed through the 2024-25 RSL campaign.

Only one week previously, Arruabarrena was appointed as Al Taawoun manager. The period between Al Wasl and the Buraidah club was colourful, with a short spell at Qatar’s Al Rayyan followed by cup success back in the UAE with Shabab Al Ahli. There was then seven months at Pyramids FC in Egypt, with Arruabarrena most recently spending 15 months as UAE national team manager.

He arrived at an Al Taawoun very much on the up. Pericles Chamusca had masterminded last season’s exceptional fourth-placed finish and, with it, qualification for the AFC Champions League Two. To his credit, Arruabarrena has carried over some of that form, with the club winning 10 and drawing three of his 18 matches across all competitions.

The highlights include last month’s victory at Al Nassr in the last 16 of the King’s Cup, while Wednesday’s 2-1 home win against Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya put Al Taawoun on the brink of a place in the knockout stage of the AFC Champions League Two. With one round remaining, they top Group B.

Back in the RSL, Al Taawoun sit ninth after 11 rounds, one point and one place above Al Raed, their great city rivals. Like Arruabarrena, Hellmann has overseen the club’s progress to the King’s Cup quarter-finals, part of a streak that comprises six wins for Al Raed in their past 11 matches.

Next, the Brazilian and the Argentine meet on Saturday, in the first Qassim Derby of the RSL season. With shared experience of Al Wasl, they are now competing counterparts, their connection forged in the UAE but currently on opposite sides of a sizzling Saudi Arabian divide.