The Lebanese national team was unable to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar (Farshid Abbasi/AFP)
a statement Lebanese Football Association In an official statement, Wednesday, about the identity of the new coach for the first team, to replace the former coach, Czech Ivan HashekHis contract expired 4 months ago, after the “Rice Men” were eliminated from the Asian qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
A statement from the Lebanese Federation stated: “The Executive Committee of the Lebanese Football Association decided, in its meeting held today, Wednesday, to sign Serbian coach Aleksandar Ilic to lead the Lebanese national team for the next three years, to succeed Czech coach Ivan Hashek.”
The statement continued, “The Serbian coach is scheduled to arrive early next week in Beirut to sign the contract and carry out his training duties.” The 53-year-old will be supervising the Lebanese national team in the preparations for the 2023 Asian Cup finals.
The Serbian coach will also have a difficult task, which is the replacement and switching between players, in order to prepare for the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where Ilic has great experience in the Arab region, after he supervised the Saudi Al-Ahly, in addition to Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Raed and Al-Batin. As well as the Iraqi police.
Ilic began his career as a defender in the Red Star club in 1990, and then moved to Radnicki Niš, then Cadiz, the Spanish, and the Greek Baniliakos, then to the Belgian Club Brugge, where he was crowned champions of the League (1998) and the Cup (1996) and the Super twice (1996 and 1998), and Anderlecht of Belgium as well. He contributed to winning the league (2001) and the cup (2001 and 2002), before retiring with the Dutch Vitesse Arnhem in 2004.
Ilic as coach of Lebanon’s first national team
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— Lebanese Football Association (@thelfadotcom) August 3, 2022