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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) organised the 7th AFC Elite Club Coaches Forum 2022 yesterday which served as a platform for renowned coaches and technical experts to exchange views and discuss the evolving nature of football in modern times.
Chaired by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Technical Director, Andy Roxburgh, the online session was attended by a star-studded cast featuring the likes of FIFA Technical expert Holger Osieck, UEFA Technical Advisor and Celtic FC legend Patrick Bonner, Al Duhail SC head coach and former Argentine national team player, Hernan Crespo, and Leonardo Jardim, who led Al Hilal SFC to their record fourth AFC Champions League title last season.
One of the major points of discussion was the noticeable involvement of goalkeepers in the modern day.
Speaking of this changing nature, Bonner, who played goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland, said: “These days a goalkeeper is far more involved in the game, and his relationship with the team’s defenders and midfielders is integral to the team’s performance and has a huge impact on the match.”
Using examples from previous seasons, the panel members enumerated some of the other trends that are gradually earning popularity in Asia, such as the tendency to play high pressing football.
“The kind of high pressing game that Al Hilal SFC have been showcasing lately has been extremely rare in West Asia and Asian football at large. We can now see a gradual increase in the number of teams who are beginning to practise this,” Roxburgh pointed out.
Ranging from the complexity of maintaining harmonious relationships with players and staff members, to dealing with the disappointment of failure and defeat, the technicians discussed in detail some of the common challenges that have become an inherent part of their job.
The forum also went on to discuss pros and cons of several technical aspects of the game that could be potential obstacles in the path to improving Asian football such as time wastage.
The coaches also stressed the importance of understanding cultural differences and expanding their skills that will enhance their capabilities as managers and leaders.
“It is not just about tactics and a lot depends on the coach’s ability to understand the culture of the team and country. A coach wears many hats when in charge of a squad and the players need to believe in their coaches’ vision of the game,” explained Roxburgh.
