Former Newcastle star is named manager of new UAE side Al Qabila ahead of their first top flight season in Dubai as the the club tease arrival of ‘legendary’ ex-defender
- A Newcastle icon has been appointed boss of the UAE’s new Al Qablila FC
- The franchise called the former defender a “legend” whose experience is “second to none.”
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A former Newcastle defender has been appointed manager of new UAE franchise Al Qabila FC after success in Dubai’s second tier.
Al Qabila has gone viral on social media after a project to ‘build a football club in 365 days’ began after being founded by Soheil Varahram – who will be a player for the team – and creative director Daniyal Sheikh.
The side are set to embark on their first-ever campaign in the UAE Pro League next season, having built the club from the ground up and started the search for a manager.
Varahram posted a video to his TikTok page telling fans they would be unveiling their new head coach as he stood in front of a black van in the desert.
He then video calls Sheikh, who asks, “Bro, do you think the fans are ready for this?”
A former Newcastle defender has been named as the manager of UAE’s new Al Qabila in a revealing video on social media
The footage shows the club’s founder waiting in the desert for a black van to come towards them
Ex-defender Steven Taylor is then filmed getting out of the van and shaking his hand
Varahram tells him, “This coach, his mentality is on another level,” before his colleague responds, “His experience is second to none.” Varahram then says that the coach in question has “been at the very highest level of football… what more could you want?”
He is then filmed getting out of the van before someone else drives up to him. Shortly afterwards, a showreel begins with Steven Taylor’s highlights from his days in Newcastle, including a goal celebration.
Former defender Taylor is then seen stepping out of the van in an all-black suit before shaking hands with Varahram, who introduces him as a ‘legend’ and ‘the perfect fit’ for the club. Taylor tells fans, “Guys, it’s great to be part of the tribe. Let’s take over.’
Taylor’s shares are high in Dubai after he led Gulf United to successive promotions to the country’s second tier.
Taylor made 268 appearances for boyhood club Newcastle United, spanning 13 seasons
The 38-year-old joined Gulf United in 2022, his first managerial role, and has since been replaced by former Swansea City left-back Neil Taylor.
Steven Taylor started his career at boyhood club Newcastle and played for thirteen seasons, making a total of 268 appearances, scoring 15 times and suffering the pain of relegation in 2008–09 before leading them to immediate promotion.
Taylor left Newcastle in 2016 and headed to the United States to join Portland Timbers in the MLS.
After a year in the US he returned to Britain to play one season for Ipswich Town, but made only three appearances for the Tractor Boys before signing for Peterborough United. He made 51 appearances there before heading Down Under to Australia to join Wellington Phoenix.
Bouts with Indian Super League side Odisha followed before he returned to Phoenix last season before announcing his retirement in 2021.