The Bangladesh Football Federation is likely to appoint Italian Fabio Lopez as the next national football team coach replacing him with Dutchman Lodwijk de Kruif, officials said on Wednesday.
The 42-year old Rome-born Italian held a meeting with the BFF high-up on Wednesday and his appointment could be announced today. Lopez will succeed Kruif, who was working on assignment basis and had been committed with the BFF until the next edition of Bangabandhu Cup.
The BFF was looking for a replacement of Kruif following to heavy defeats against Australia and Jordan in Bangladesh’s last two World Cup qualifiers.
Kruif’s poor off-the-field behaviour, which saw him getting a two-match touchline ban, also compelled the BFF to look for a replacement.
Kruif’s potential replacement, Lopez started his coaching career as a scout at Italian clubs Atalanta and Fiorentina before moving to Lithuania as a club coach. Lopez also has the experience of working as a coach of a state team in Malaysia.
He worked as a club coach in Indonesia and Maldives as well.
Bangladesh will be his first job as a coach of a national side.
‘Our president [Kazi Salahuddin] and vice-president Tabith Awal held a meeting with him today,’ BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag told reporters on Wednesday. He is really interested to work with the Bangladesh national team.
Salahuddin later told reporters a final decision regarding Lopez’s appointment will be taken in today’s executive committee meeting.
-With New Age input
