Cosmin Olăroiu

Cosmin Olăroiu
Olăroiu in 2007
Personal information
Full name Cosmin Aurelian Olăroiu
Date of birth (1969-06-10) 10 June 1969
Place of birth Bucharest, Romania
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Team information
Current team
United Arab Emirates (head coach)
Youth career
–1988 Steaua București
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1989 Carpați Nehoiu
1989–1990 Gloria Buzău
1990–1991 MECON București
1991–1992 Girueta București
1992–1995 Naţional București 80 (8)
1995–1997 Universitatea Craiova 37 (2)
1997–2000 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 98 (7)
2000JEF United Ichihara (loan) 10 (0)
Total 225 (17)
Managerial career
2001–2002 Naţional București
2002 Steaua București
2003–2004 Naţional București
2005 Politehnica Timişoara
2005–2007 Steaua București
2007–2009 Al-Hilal
2009–2010 Al-Sadd
2011–2013 Al Ain
2013–2017 Shabab Al-Ahli
2014–2015 Saudi Arabia
2018–2021 Jiangsu Suning
2021–2025 Sharjah
2025– United Arab Emirates
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cosmin Aurelian Olăroiu (born 10 June 1969) is a Romanian football manager and former player, who is currently the head coach of United Arab Emirates national team.

As a manager, he guided Steaua București to the Divizia A title and Romanian Supercup both in 2006, and led his side to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in the same year.

He is considered one of the greatest managers in the Arabian Peninsula, having led the most decorated clubs of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and United Arab Emirates – Al Hilal, Al Sadd, Al Ain and Al Ahli – to new trophies. In 2020, he guided Jiangsu Suning to their first-ever title in China.

In May 2025, he led Sharjah FC to their first continental title, winning the AFC Champions League Two.