‘Proud’ Losada off to winning start as Hong Kong stick rather than twist in rebuild bid
Former Eastern boss Roberto Losada starts his full-time role as Hong Kong coach with 2-0 win over Mongolia
Six months after they launched their hunt for a Hong Kong boss with “a global vision and professional competence”, the local football association decided the best man for the job was under their noses all along.
A “happy and very proud” Roberto Losada, in interim charge for the past six months, was on Friday named permanent head coach, albeit he was unsure over the length of his contract.
Around eight hours after Losada’s official coronation, Juninho’s fifth-minute strike, coupled with a brilliant late free-kick from Ng Yu-hei for his first international goal, allowed the 49-year-old to begin his tenure with a 2-0 friendly victory over world No 186 side Mongolia in front of 6,016 at Hong Kong Stadium.
The city team will face Cambodia in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, Eric Fok Kai-shan, chairman of the Football Association of Hong Kong, China (HKFA), said that after weighing up the credentials of more than 300 applicants Losada had been considered the “best fit” to oversee a rebuild.
“We’re at a crossroads, and we need a coach who understands the Hong Kong football ecosystem,” Fok said. “We want stability, because from there you can develop and grow.