Myanmar names Norwegian Andersen as head of national team

Myanmar has appointed former North Korea coach Jorn Andersen to lead its men's national football team, the country's football federation said on Thursday.

The Norwegian, whose CV also includes a stint as coach of Hong Kong, signed the two-year contract on Wednesday, the federation said in a statement.

"I am delighted to be in Myanmar," Andersen, 63, said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"I will work to help develop Myanmar players and achieve as much success as possible with the national team."

The football federation said it appointed Andersen "in recognition of his extensive international coaching experience, strong understanding of Asian football and proven ability to build competitive teams".

Under his tenure, North Korea won eight of the 14 matches they played, qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup.

He was the internationally isolated country's first foreign head coach.

Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war since the military seized power in a 2021 coup that ousted Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government and ended a decade-long democratic opening.

Andersen was also credited with leading Hong Kong's team in 2023 to their first Asian Cup finals in more than five decades.

The former international striker finished as top scorer in the Bundesliga when he was playing for Eintracht Frankfurt.

Andersen will take over from former Myanmar player Myo Hlaing Win, who had served as head coach since 2024.

Myanmar is listed 158th in the FIFA men's world ranking and was previously coached by Germans Antoine Hey and Michael Feichtenbeiner.

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© Agence France-Presse