The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal had earlier announced that the name of the national team head coach would be revealed on 15 May. Preparations had been underway to meet that deadline; however, financial constraints have now emerged as the principal obstacle before finalising the appointment.
A recent emergency online meeting of the BFF National Team Committee failed to conclude with the selection of any candidate. Following the meeting, it was decided that the issue would once again be discussed with the State Minister for Youth and Sports, Aminul Haque. The minister is expected to return to Dhaka on Thursday morning after a visit to Türkiye.
However, there is no certainty that discussions with the minister will resolve the financial gap. It has been reported that the leading candidate for the position, former Wales manager Chris Coleman, has requested a monthly salary of 35,000 US dollars, including an assistant. In contrast, the BFF’s current financial capacity is estimated at between 15,000 and 20,000 US dollars per month.
Whether the Ministry of Youth and Sports will cover the remaining cost remains uncertain. Although the State Minister had earlier indicated support for the federation, the exact level of financial assistance has not been confirmed. Attempts to contact Aminul Haque for clarification were unsuccessful as he did not respond to phone calls.
A member of the BFF National Team Committee stated that if the required funds cannot be arranged, the federation may be forced to consider alternative candidates with lower salary demands instead of Chris Coleman. This could potentially alter the final direction of the coaching appointment process.
Following the committee’s online meeting, another member told our representative that financial considerations remain central to the decision-making process. He noted that while the federation’s primary interest lies with Chris Coleman, the financial requirement to secure his services has not yet been met. He added that the president has decided to hold further discussions with the State Minister and will present three shortlisted candidates for consideration.
Potential Coaching Candidates and Salary Overview
| Candidate | Nationality | Reported Monthly Salary | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Coleman | Wales | 35,000 USD | Includes assistant |
| Bernd Stork | Germany | Not specified | Under consideration |
| Rosario Mikel | Brazil | Not specified | Former Brazil Olympic coach; currently linked with Brazil second division role |
The report also notes that Rosario Mikel, who had earlier applied to the BFF, is once again being mentioned despite having joined Brazil’s second division on 8 May.
In addition, concerns were raised regarding the scheduling of regional football competitions. It was discussed that the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship may not take place in September as initially expected, with a possible rescheduling to November–December. There is also a possibility that the tournament may not be held this year at all.
This uncertainty led to questions during the meeting regarding the rationale of appointing a high-profile coach under such conditions. Participants reportedly asked what benefit would be derived from hiring an expensive coach if the competition itself remains uncertain.
The discussion further highlighted structural issues within domestic football. Committee members emphasised that without improvements in infrastructure and the quality of the domestic league, it would be difficult to attract and retain world-class coaching professionals in the long term. In particular, the poor condition of district-level playing fields was identified as a significant ongoing challenge for football development in Bangladesh.
Overall, the process of appointing the new national team coach remains unresolved, with financial constraints and structural concerns continuing to delay a final decision.
