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Bruno Metsu's resignation as the UAE national team's football coach may have shocked his admirers in this country, but is quite a common phenomenon in the game.
With the team's chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals now only a mathematical possibility, the temperamental Frenchman has walked out on his contract for what he considers to be a 'failure' in his mission.
It's, however, the manner of his exit which raises some unanswered questions. The general perception is he had lost the confidence of his players - most of whom he had coached to the historic Gulf Cup triumph last year - following his scathing criticism of them after defeats in the first two qualifying games.
The fallout, however, may not be very heartening for football in the UAE - which has just entered a new era with the professional league last week. The national team still has tough encounters to go through against the likes of Iran and South Korea, and any adverse results under a caretaker coach can only dampen morale further.
Metsu, meanwhile, can look back with a degree of satisfaction at his tenure - a first-ever Gulf Cup triumph as well as reaching the final phase of World Cup qualifiers.
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