Skip to main content

Continental Champion Managers in the 2023 Asian Cup

Image
By

 


Several continental champion managers are eyeing for their next silverware in the 2023 Asian Cup.

The Asian Cup is already underway, and all the favourite teams started off their campaign quite well. Unlike previous editions, several teams are currently led by the continental champion managers. They are aiming to lift the trophy in Qatar to help them secure their position.

Not all of them are at the helm of the top teams. The ones in command of the stronger sides would undoubtedly have a better chance of winning the title. Yet, such definitely comes with the price of more pressure due to the team’s lofty target. Consequently, any hint of a disappointing outcome could lead to their dismissal. So, who are these continental champions in this year's tournament? Check out their profile below:


Phillipe Troussier

The 68-year-old boss is the Asian Cup-winning manager. He did it with Japan in the 2000 edition after beating Saudi Arabia ina narrow 1-0 win. Troussier also guided Hidetoshi Nakata and Co. and the U20 team to the finals of the FIFA Confederation Cup in 2001 and 1999, respectively. Unfortunately, his team’s campaign in the 2002 FIFA World Cup did not impress the fans after they headed to an early exit in the round of 16.

The French gaffer also had mixed results while taking charge of African sides. He was deemed successful during his short stints in Nigeria and Burkina Faso, when he led the latter to be semifinalists in the 1998 African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Yet he failed in Ivory Coast, South Africa, and Morocco.

Troussier is currently at the helm of Vietnam in this year’s Asian Cup. He is under pressure to continue Vietnam’s positive trend in tournament history, which has always managed to progress from the group stage. Unfortunately, they did not start the campaign well after suffering a 4-2 defeat against his former team, Japan, at the opener.

Juan Pizzi

The Argentina-born manager was in the spotlight in the Copa America 2016 as he surprisingly brought Chile to defend the title after a win on penalties against the same opposition in the previous edition, Argentina. Such a result even broke Lionel Messi’s heart, leading to his temporary retirement from Albiceleste several months later.

However, things went quite the opposite for Pizzi. He was unable to guide Chile to a spot in the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The 55-year-old boss has never won any silverware either on the international stage or at the club level. The former Barcelona man did help Saudi Arabia snatch their first win since 1994 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, but the Green Falcons failed to progress. He also had disappointing spells at San Lorenzo, Racing Club, and the UAE’s Al Wasl before signing for Bahrain. Sadly, his team’s campaign in the Asian Cup is under scrutiny too after a 3-1 loss versus South Korea at the opener. 

Jurgen Klinsmann

The former German star in the 1990s once lifted the continental trophy, the CONCACAF Gold Cup, back in 2013, when he was in command of the USMNT. That is his only title in his managerial career. In the following year, he brought Clint Dempsey and Co. to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but they could not ease past Belgium in the round of 16.

Previously, Klinsmann had a fairly successful campaign while taking charge of Germany at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Despite only finishing third in the competition, he inspired the beginning of the newDie Mannschaft with their attractive offensive style relying on pressing, speed, andpower.

Nevertheless, the former prolific striker did not have impressive stints at the club level. He failed miserably at Bayern Munich and had mixed results with Hertha Berlin before his resignation. The 59-year-old gaffer is currently in charge of South Korea. His team successfully thumped Bahrain 3-1 in the first game.

Roberto Mancini

The Italian manager is the most recent one to win the continental title. He did it just three years ago in Wembley after Italy came out as winners on penalties against the host in UEFA EURO 2021 final. However, Mancini was under criticism after his team missed their second consecutive FIFA World Cup in 2022. Leonardo Bonucci and Co. were stunned by North Macedonia in the playoff.

His move to Saudi Arabia was deemed controversial too, since he made the sudden decision to leave his club in the middle of the EURO 2024 qualifiers. The former Sampdoria star returned to the international stage only a few months after his resignation, when he was announced as Saudi Arabia's boss. It was said that the Saudi football governing body offered him a much higher salary to move to the Middle East.

In the 2023 Asian Cup, Mancini’s men only sealed a 2-1 win over Oman in the first game. Saudi Arabia lays their hope on him to lift the trophy again in the tournament. Saudi Arabia’s last triumph in the AFC Asian Cup was in the 1996 edition.

At the club level, the former forward always managed to win at least one title for each of his clubs, except for the Russian side, Zenit St.Petersburg. He delivered national cup trophies for Fiorentina, Lazio, and Galatasaray, enjoyed the beginning of golden years in Inter Milan with three consecutive Serie A titles, and ended Manchester City’s long wait for their league title drought in 2012.

 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Top El Classicos with Englishman as the Protagonist

By
  A few El Clásico games have been decided by English players in the matches’ history, especially during modern times. El Classico 2025 is set to be held this weekend on Sunday, October 26. This would be the first time ever when two sides have English players in the same season. Both teams have a long history with Englishmen, but they belong to different eras and seasons. In the past, prior to World War II, Barcelona had 10 Englishmen in the squad, with Jack Greenwell as one of the most notable ones, whereas their archrival in the capital only had one name. However, things went the opposite in the modern era. Los Blancos went ahead and became more English-friendly with seven players since the 1980s, while their Catalan counterparts have only had two names ever since. The Englishmen in Madrid were even top names in the era, especially in the 2000s when the superstars David Beckham and Michael Owen joined the Los Galacticos after Laurie Cunningham in the 1980s and Steve ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Players thriving under their father/manager at the club and earn immediate international cap

By
  A few players have been fortunate in his career when they emerge to stardom under his father who happens to be the manager of their club. Football runs deep and certainly can run in the family. There have been a number of players who play for the team alongside their brothers or under their father as the team boss.  Not all manage to break into the first team under their fathers. Recently, one of Argentina internationals thrives under his father/manager at the club has been the regular member of Albiceleste squad. He is none but Guiliano Simeone , the son of Atletico Madrid boss, Diego . He owed his recent prominence to his father. He joined Los Rojiblancos initially in the reserve team before spending his loan spells in two Segunda Division sides, Alaves and Real Zaragoza before eventually being promoted to the first team last season. The right winger has been indispensable in Metropolitan with 67 appearances so far, registering eight goals and 14 assists. He e...
Post a Comment
Read more

1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup: The Emergence of Portugal

By
  The 1989 FIFA U-20 World Cup marked the dawn of Portugal’s resurgence in world football, as a new generation delivered the nation’s first international title. Portugal had enjoyed a golden period in the mid-1960s, when Eusébio inspired them to the World Cup semi-finals in 1966, but the national side then faded from prominence. A revival began in the 1980s at club level, with Benfica and Porto reaching European finals—Porto famously winning the European Cup in 1987. The national team also showed promise at Euro 1984, reaching the semi-finals, before suffering a humiliating collapse at the 1986 World Cup amid the “Saltillo scandal.” Failure to qualify for Euro 1988 left Portuguese football in crisis. Against that backdrop, the triumph of Carlos Queiroz’s promising young squad in Saudi Arabia offered a glimpse of a brighter future for the Seleção das Quinas. Key Facts – 1989 Tournament   The 1989 edition carried several notable features: * Held from 16 February to 3 Mar...
Post a Comment
Read more