Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
How they qualified: 3rd place - UAE Pro League 2011
Established 1982
Nickname Al Smawi (The Sky Blues)
Home stadium Baniyas FC Stadium (9,500)
Website www.baniyasclub.ae
Club Honours
President's Cup winners 1 - 1992
Previous ACL appearances
Nil
Club Profile
A yo-yo club for much of their history, Baniyas enjoyed perhaps their finest season in 2011 when they finished runners-up in the United Arab Emirates Pro League. It was their highest ever finish in the league and earned them a spot in the AFC Champions League for the first time.
It was a remarkable performance given the history of the club, which has more often been involved in relegation battles in the UAE top flight. They suffered three relegations between 2000 and 2006 and spent three years in the second tier before they won promotion in 2009 and consolidated their place in the Pro League with a fourth place finish the following year.
The Sky Blues were looking to make further progress during the 2011-12 season and showed their intent by bringing in former Iraq coach Jorvan Vieira and ex-France star striker David Trezeguet for the new campaign.
But the club were shaken by the death of talented young winger Theyab Awana in a road accident on the eve of the season and began badly with one win in their first eight games which resulted in the dismissal of Vieira and the appointment of former Saudi Arabia national coach Gabriel Calderon.
While Trezeguet also left after he failed to settle in the Middle East, the form of Baniyas has improved under Calderon and while they have little hope of emulating their league performance of last season, they have not given up hope of silverware in the UAE President' s Cup and a strong performance in the AFC Champions League.
Expectations
Given their current lowly league position and their lack of experience in the AFC Champions League, Baniyas are not expected to make much of an impression in this year's tournament. But the Emirati side have plenty of talent in their ranks including young UAE internationals Mohamed Fawzi and Amer Abdulrahman, Omani midfielder Fawzi Bashir and high-scoring Senegalese striker Andre Senghor and should give their Group B rivals a run for their money.
Coach
Gabriel Calderon
A former coach of the Saudi Arabia and Oman national teams as well as Saudi giants Al Ittihad and Al Hilal, Gabriel Calderon is working in the United Arab Emirates for the first time after signing with Baniyas last November. The 52-year-old Argentinian led Al Ittihad to the AFC Champions League final in 2009 and won the Saudi domestic double with their rivals, Al Hilal, last year.
Did you know?
Baniyas' only major honour to date was their victory in the UAE President's Cup in 1992. Although they were a second division side at the time, they beat top flight teams Al Jazira and Al Shaab during their run to the final before coming from behind to beat league giants Al Nasr 2-1 after extra-time in the championship match.
Key Player
Andre Senghor
Senegal international striker Andre Senghor was a key reason for Baniyas' successful campaign in the 2010-11 season when he emerged as the UAE Pro League's top scorer after bagging 18 goals. The 26-year-old from Dakar has spent much of the past six years playing in the Middle East, initially with UAE side Al Ain but also on loan with Syria's Karama and Morocco's Raja Casablanca.