BFF to name new head coach 'within three days'

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is set to name a new head coach for the national team within the next three days after the National Teams Committee trimmed the list of candidates to 10 from 22.

“We have gone through every CV from the shortlist of coaches today after the special committee comprising three BFF members and technical director Saiful Bari Titu prepared it from 270 applicants. The National Teams Committee, headed by BFF president Tabith Awal, reduced the number of candidates to 10. We will now speak to them over the next three days before finalising and announcing one for the national team,” Media Committee chairman Amirul Islam Babu told reporters after the meeting in Jolshiri.

Babu declined to reveal the names of the shortlisted candidates, saying only that the final appointment would be announced within the stipulated timeframe. The earlier shortlist featured coaches from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Australia and Bangladesh.

He added that a separate shortlist of nine to 10 goalkeeping coaches has also been prepared, although discussions on that role have not yet taken place.

“Once we select the head coach of the national team, we will discuss his preference regarding the goalkeeping coach and then take a decision,” Babu said.

Bangladesh are scheduled to take part in a four-nation tournament in Maldives and will also play a FIFA international friendly against San Marino next month.

National Teams Committee member Shahadat Hossain said the squad for the Maldives tournament may include some overseas-based players, while Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome are expected to feature in the friendly against San Marino.