1. Early Life and Personal Background
Mahdi Ali Hassan Redha was born in Dubai in 1965. Beyond his football career, Ali also pursued an academic and professional path in engineering. He attended the HCT - Dubai Men's College, where he graduated as an electrical engineer. Following his studies, he applied his engineering expertise to significant infrastructure projects in Dubai. While working for Dubai Municipality, he played a role in the establishment of the Road Transit Authority (RTA) and was instrumental in conceptualizing Dubai's parking project. He also contributed to the design of the Dubai Metro and its ticketing system.
2. Playing Career
Mahdi Ali began his football journey at a young age, joining the youth sides of Al Ahli in Dubai when he was six years old. He steadily progressed through the club's development system, eventually making his debut for the first team at the age of 16 in 1983. As a player, Ali primarily functioned as a midfielder. During his time with Al Ahli, he won two UAE President's Cup titles, playing a crucial role in the 1988 final against Al Shabab. His playing career spanned until 1996, the year he won his second President's Cup.
3. Coaching Career
Mahdi Ali Hassan Redha embarked on his coaching career in 1998, returning to football after his playing days. He dedicated extensive periods to coaching various United Arab Emirates national football teams across different age levels, fostering a generation of talented players. He also took on managerial roles at top-level clubs in his home country.
3.1. Early Coaching and Youth Teams
Ali's coaching journey began in 1998, where he started with the Al Ahli U10s in Dubai. In 2000, he took a year-long leave to reside in London with his family, during which he obtained a coaching certificate. Subsequently, the UAE Football Association sent him to Germany to earn his A-level coaching certificate. In 2008, while on leave from his government engineering job in Dubai, the UAE FA invited him to coach the U19 national team.
Under his guidance, Ali achieved unprecedented success with what came to be known as the "golden generation" of Emirati players. This success began with winning the 2008 AFC U-19 Championship. His U19 team then performed commendably at the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, reaching the final eight. This developmental success continued with the U23 national team, which secured a U23 Gulf Cup championship and a silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games football tournament. From 2010 to 2012, Ali famously led the United Arab Emirates Olympic team to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, marking the nation's historic first appearance in the Olympic football tournament.
In between his national youth team duties, Ali briefly served as caretaker coach for Baniyas starting on April 7, 2011, after the club's previous coach, Lutfi al Benzarti, departed. Baniyas was in second place in the UAE Pro League when Ali took charge, and he successfully maintained that position, finishing behind Al Jazira.
3.2. United Arab Emirates National Team
On August 15, 2012, Mahdi Ali was appointed as the coach of the UAE senior national team, becoming the fourth Emirati manager to hold this position, succeeding Abdullah Masfar. His tenure with the senior national team was highly impactful. Under his management, the UAE team performed exceptionally well, finishing first in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification. They also secured their second ever Arabian Gulf Cup title in 2013, building on the success of Bruno Metsu's previous win.
Ali led the United Arab Emirates to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, where they had a remarkable run. In the group stage, they defeated Qatar and Bahrain, but lost to Iran. In the quarter-finals, they faced Japan, a highly favored team, and famously won the match after a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals. However, the UAE lost to Australia in the semi-finals, preventing their progression to the final. His side went on to defeat Iraq 3-2 in the third/fourth place play-off, concluding their campaign with an impressive third-place finish. This achievement made him the first Emirati coach to lead the national team in an AFC Asian Cup tournament.
On February 27, 2015, Ali extended his contract with the UAE national team until 2018. However, he resigned from his position on March 28, 2017, following a 2-0 loss to Australia in a World Cup qualification match.
3.3. Club Coaching
After his departure from the national team, Mahdi Ali coached Shabab Al Ahli Dubai during their inaugural season in 2017-18, where the team finished in a mid-table position. He left the club after his contract concluded, without securing any major domestic trophies during that stint.
Ali later returned to Shabab Al Ahli Dubai for the 2020-21 season, taking over after the club dismissed its previous coach due to a poor start to the season. During this second spell, he enjoyed significant success. By late January 2021, Ali guided Shabab Al Ahli to victory in the 2020 UAE Super Cup, defeating Sharjah 1-0 with an injury-time goal scored by Mohammed Marzooq. He then secured his second honor with the club by winning the 2020-21 UAE League Cup, following a 5-4 penalty shootout victory against Al Nasr in the final. Ali completed a treble by winning his third trophy for the season, the 2020-21 UAE President's Cup, again triumphing over Al Nasr with a 2-1 scoreline in the final. His second tenure with Shabab Al Ahli concluded on May 26, 2022.
4. Managerial Statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Win Percentage | |||
| Al Ahli | November 2, 2009 | February 4, 2010 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 24 | 17 | +7 | 50.00% |
| United Arab Emirates U-23 | January 1, 2010 | August 12, 2012 | 27 | 17 | 6 | 4 | 53 | 19 | +34 | 62.96% |
| United Arab Emirates | August 12, 2012 | March 28, 2017 | 60 | 35 | 12 | 13 | 121 | 59 | +62 | 58.33% |
| Shabab Al Ahli Dubai | December 2, 2017 | May 30, 2018 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 21 | +2 | 42.11% |
| December 15, 2020 | May 26, 2022 | 69 | 37 | 20 | 12 | 114 | 70 | +44 | 53.62% | |
| Total coaching for Shabab Al Ahli Dubai | 88 | 45 | 25 | 18 | 137 | 91 | +46 | 51.14% | ||
| Total | 185 | 103 | 44 | 38 | 334 | 187 | +147 | 55.68% | ||
5. Honours
Mahdi Ali Hassan Redha has accumulated numerous honors throughout his distinguished career, both as a player and as a manager, contributing significantly to Emirati football.
5.1. As a Player
Al Ahli
- UAE President's Cup: 1988, 1996
5.2. As a Manager
United Arab Emirates U-19
- AFC U-19 Championship: 2008
United Arab Emirates U-23
- Asian Games silver medalists: 2010
United Arab Emirates
- Arabian Gulf Cup: 2013
- Arabian Gulf Cup third place: 2014
- AFC Asian Cup third place: 2015
Shabab Al Ahli
- UAE President's Cup: 2020-21
- UAE Super Cup: 2020
- UAE League Cup: 2020-21
6. Legacy and Impact
Mahdi Ali Hassan Redha's influence on Emirati football extends far beyond his playing and coaching statistics. He is widely credited with nurturing a "golden generation" of Emirati players, many of whom he guided through youth national teams and who later formed the core of the senior national squad. His systematic approach to youth development, coupled with his coaching expertise, helped elevate the technical and tactical capabilities of Emirati footballers, preparing them for international competition.
Under his leadership, the UAE national team achieved some of its most significant successes, including their first Olympic Games appearance in football and a strong performance at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. These achievements significantly raised the profile of Emirati football on the international stage and instilled a sense of national pride. Ali's commitment to developing local talent and his consistent success across various age groups cemented his status as one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport in the United Arab Emirates. His career exemplifies a profound dedication to both the strategic development of football and the practical implementation of ambitious projects beyond the pitch.