Following on from the feature on the recruitment of foreign managers by nations aiming to triumph at the 2015 Asian Cup, we look at five coaches who have succeeded in the Asian game.
Guus Hiddink
The Dutchman took South Korea to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, as high a finish as any Asian nation has achieved at football’s greatest showpiece. Italy and Spain were defeated en route. He then guided Australia, who were soon to be reassigned to the AFC, to the knockout phase of the 2006 World Cup.
Anghel Iordanescu
The veteran Romanian has achieved in Asian club football a rare double. He has won the AFC’s principal club tournament with two different clubs, Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, in 2000, and Al Ittihad, in 2005. He had two spells in the UAE as Al Ain coach and won a President’s Cup. Began his second spell in charge of Romania late last year.
Why Cosmin Olaroiu is the only man qualified to lead Saudi Arabia’s Asian Cup charge
Carlos Alberto Parreira
The Brazilian has become a ubiquitous World Cup presence. As well as achievements, and setbacks, with his native country, he took three Asian countries – Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia – to World Cups, though never beyond the first phase. He did, though, win the Asian Cup twice, with Kuwait in 1980 and Saudi Arabia in 1988.
Philippe Troussier
The much-travelled Frenchman enjoyed sustained success with the Japan national side from 1998 to 2002. His successes included the 2000 Asian Cup, a creditable silver medal at the 2001 Confederations Cup and, crucially, Japan’s first steps past a World Cup group stage, at the tournament they co-hosted in 2002.
Marcello Lippi
The Italian won the 2013 Asian Champions League in charge of Ghangzou Evergrande. He had an expensively assembled squad at his disposal and was able to establish new landmarks, bringing Asia’s major continental club title to China for the first time since 1990, as well as taking them to fourth at the Club World Cup.
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
