Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The former Liverpool and England midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has announced his immediate retirement from professional football to take the managerial reins at Arabian Falcons FC.
The 34-year-old, who arrived in the UAE last year at the then third-division club as their marquee signing, will transition directly from the pitch to the dugout for the promoted Dubai-based outfit who are currently place third in the UAE Second Division.
The appointment marks a significant statement of intent for the Falcons, a club founded only in 2023. Shelvey replaces his long-time friend Harry Agombar in the technical area, inheriting a squad that includes another former Premier League talent in Ravel Morrison.
The move also sees Shelvey reuniting professionally with former Crystal Palace midfielder Jason Puncheon, who serves as the club’s co-owner and Head of Football Operations.
Shelvey’s decision to hang up his boots comes after a storied career that included significant spells at Newcastle United, Swansea City, Burnley, and Nottingham Forest.
Despite making eight appearances for the Falcons this term, the lure of a leadership role within an ambitious project proved too strong to resist for a club which has set an ambitious target of making to the 2029 Club World Cup.
The transition into management appears a natural progression for Shelvey, who has been working towards his UEFA A Licence while coaching at the Ellevate Football Academy in Dubai. Earlier this year, the Londoner turned down an assistant manager role at Konyaspor in Turkiye, citing his desire to keep his family settled in the Emirates.
Reflecting on his new life in the Gulf, Shelvey spoke warmly of the environment that prompted him to make the UAE his permanent home. He and Agombar are acquainted for more than two decades but only reconnected last year.
Now Agombar, 33, has moved up to Sporting Director. The lifestyle and the vision of the club have clearly left an impression on Shelvey with six caps as England international.
“I wanted to move out anyway,” Shelvey said. “I’m lucky that I found a club in Falcons that are doing everything right. I just thought I had just moved my family over and I can’t just then disappear and leave them.”
While his playing days are now behind him, Shelvey intends to bring the tactical meticulousness he observed under his favourite manager, Eddie Howe at Newcastle, to his new role. He previously described Howe as the finest manager he worked under, noting the importance of finer details in the modern game.
“I’m excited to take on this challenge and lead the Falcons forward. We have a talented group and a clear vision to achieve promotion and build something special in Dubai. My ambition is to climb to the very top of management and this is the perfect project to prove myself and what I’m capable of,” Shelvey said.
Puncheon called Shelvey “a perfect fit for our project. His experience at the highest level, combined with his character and hunger, will inspire the team as we push for promotion and long-term success.”
