From left: Jurgen Klinsmann, Roberto Mancini, Antonio Pizzi, and Hajime Moriyasu
Doha, Qatar: Heading into the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, a quartet of head coaches had the opportunity to not just claim Continental glory but also carve out some special history.
Now, with the dust having settled on the Group Stage, the title hopes of Jurgen Klinsmann (Korea Republic), Roberto Mancini (Saudi Arabia), Juan Antonio Pizzi (Bahrain) and Hajime Moriyasu (Japan) remain alive after their respective teams sealed qualification to the Round of 16.
For the first three names, winning the 18th edition of Asia’s crown jewel will see them become the fourth member of an exclusive club of head coaches who have won at least two different Continental national team flagship tournaments.
The feat was first achieved by Roger Lemerre when he led Tunisia to their inaugural African Cup of Nations title on home soil in February 2004 as an unbeaten campaign concluded with a victory over Morocco in the final. That came less than four years after the former defender had led his native France to the UEFA Euro 2000 crown in July that year, ending a 16-year wait since their first success in 1984.
Next came Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led Brazil to their seventh Copa America in July 2004 after a 4-2 penalty shootout win against Argentina in the final. That added to his two AFC Asian Cup titles – having guided Kuwait to their sole triumph in September 1980 with a 3-0 win against Korea Republic, the Brazilian added another in December 1988 by helping Saudi Arabia defeat Korea Republic again, this time on penalties.
Parreira, who also coached Brazil to the 1994 FIFA World Cup trophy, remains the only head coach to win the AFC Asian Cup twice. Tom Sermanni also has three Continental titles under his belt and became the third coach on the list in May 2010 after masterminding Australia’s maiden – and to date only – success in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The Scot had already won the OFC Women’s Championship with the Matildas in October 1994 and he also added another OFC crown with New Zealand in December 2018 for good measure.
In Qatar, Italian Mancini could find himself with the chance to follow up his UEFA Euro 2020 triumph with the Azzuri, while ultimate glory for Klinsmann – who also won the 1990 World Cup as a player – will add to the German’s 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup win with the United States. Argentinian Pizzi will have to make space in the trophy cabinet beside the Copa America silverware from 2016 with Chile if he steers Bahrain to their first ever AFC Asian Cup.
For Moriyasu, success with Japan at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 would not only be his first Continental success as a head coach and make it a record-extending fifth triumph for the Samurai Blue, it would also make the 55-year-old the first ever to win Asia’s premier men’s national team competition as a player and a coach.
Back in 1992, Moriyasu was a 24-year-old midfielder who featured in every match of that year’s AFC Asian Cup – bar the final, for which he was suspended – as Japan made history with their first ever title success.
Intriguingly, all four head coaches have been paired in the Round of 16 – Klinsmann’s hunt for Korea Republic’s first Asian crown since 1960 will see them face Mancini’s three-time champions Saudi Arabia on Tuesday at the Education City Stadium, while Moriyasu will have to end Pizzi’s dream if he is to continue his quest with Japan as they meet Bahrain on Wednesday at the Al Thumama Stadium.
The two teams that eventually emerge victorious could then potentially meet in the final on February 10 – in which case, reaching the pinnacle of Asian football would also guarantee a unique place in the history books.
