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Continental Champion Managers in the 2023 Asian Cup

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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.

 


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