Best Asian managers of all time

As you already know, football is one of the most popular sports in the whole world with millions of fans. There are countries in all continents which have a rich history in football, therefore, they have had brilliant football players and managers who stand out in their country or even their continent.

As we already mentioned, football is followed almost everywhere on this planet. In this article on

, we will go over Asian football. Here we are going to have a look at the

best Asian managers in history

, who are admired in their countries and continent.

Best Asian managers ever 

In this article, we have made a list of the

greatest Asian coaches of all time

. Here we will go over their career and achievements. Stay with us and keep reading the article.

Akira Nishino

The first name on our list for the best Asian managers of all time is the Japanese manager, Akira Nishino. This brilliant coach was born in Urawa, Saitama, Japan on 7 April 1955 and used to play football as a midfielder. He began playing football at Waseda University in 1974 and kicked the ball there for 3 years.

In 1978, Nishino’s senior career started as he joined hitach, where he kicked the ball until the end of his career in 1990. This former footballer started his managerial career in 1991 with Japan U-20. After 2 years, he went on to join Japan U-23, where he worked until 1996.

In 1998, Nishino joined

and coached this team for 3 years. This brilliant manager then joined

in 2002 and managed them until 2011, which means 9 years. Then he coached

in 2012 for a short time, Nagoya Grampus in the 2014/15 season, the national team of Japan in 2018 for a short time, the national team of Thailand in the 2019/20 season, and Thailand U-23 in 2020 for a short time.

Akira Nishino, who is one of the

best Asian coaches of all time

, won 1 J League Cup with Kashiwa Reysol and 2 Imperial Cup titles, 1 J League, 1 J League Cup, and 1 AFC Champions League with Gamba Osaka. He won the ACL in 2008.

Mansour Pourheidari 

The next name among the best Asian managers of all time is

’s legend, Mansour Pourheidari. This outstanding manager was born in Tehran, Iran on 26 January 1946 and passed away in that city on 4 November 2016. He started playing football at Daraei in 1962.

3 years later, the senior career of this former footballer began as he joined Taj (Esteghlal). Pourheidari kicked the ball for the Blues of Tehran until 1975 and then returned to Daraei, where he finished his career in 1977. During his football career, he won 2 Iranian League titles and 1 AFC Champions League with Taj.

Mansour Pourheidari was nicknamed “Father of Esteghlal” and is regarded as one of the legends of this club and Iranian football. Before the Islamic revolution of Iran, Esteghlal was called “Taj”, which means crown. After the revolution, it was going to be dissolved as it was owned by one of the generals of the former Shah of Iran. But Pourheidari didn’t let it happen and changed the club’s name to Esteghlal.

The managerial career of this outstanding coach started with Esteghlal in 1983. After 3 years, he joined the Emirati club, Shabab Al-Ahli. After managing this team until 1989, this brilliant coach moved back to Esteghlal and worked there for 3 seasons.

In 1995, Pourheidari joined the Blues of Tehran once again, although he left the club after only one season to join

. This brilliant coach worked at this club until 1998 and then was appointed as the manager of the national team of Iran.

Pourheidari managed the Iranian national team until 2000 and then moved to Esteghlal once again. After 2 years, he joined

, where he spent the 2002/03 season.

Mansour Pourheidari, who is surely one of the best Asian managers in history, won 2 Iranian League titles, 2 Hazfi Cup, and 1 AFC Champions League title with Esteghlal, as well as the Asian Games in 1998 with the national team of Iran. This outstanding coach is the only one to win the ACL with Esteghlal once as a player and once as a coach.

Charnwit Polcheewin

The next manager among the best Asian managers of all time is Charnwit Polcheewin. He was born in Thailand on 23 April 1956 and started his career at FC Raj Pracha in 1978. This former footballer spent all of his career at this club until he retired in 1981.

As a player, Polcheewin won 1 Thai League and 1 Queen’s Cup with FC Raj Pracha. His managerial career began in 1991 with FC Thai Farmers Bank. He managed this team until 200, which means 9 years, and was appointed as the coach of Thailand U-16. In 1998, he joined Thailand U-19 and worked there for a short time.

In 2005, Polcheewin became the manager of the national team of Thailand and managed them until 2008. 2 years later, he went on to manage Thailand Women’s national team for a short time in 2010.

Charnwit Polcheewin, who is among the

best Asian managers ever

, won 3 Thai League titles, 4 Queen’s Cup, and 2 AFC Champions League titles with FC Thai Farmers Bank.

Khalil Al Zayani  

The next name on our list for the

best Asian managers of all time

is the Saudi Arabian football coach, Khalil Al Zayani. He was born in Dammam, Saudi Arabia on 21 May 1947 and spent all of his career in Al Ittifaq, from 1962 until 1973. During his career as a footballer, Al Zayani won 1 King Cup title and 1 Crown Prince Cup with his team.

The managerial career of this brilliant manager started in 1976 with Al Ittifaq. He coached this team for 2 years, left the club, and moved back there in 1980. After managing the Knight of Ad-Dahna until 1984, this brilliant coach was selected to coach the national team of Saudi Arabia.

After 2 years, Al Zayani moved back to Al Ittifaq, where he managed until 1990. This brilliant coach then joined Al Qadisiyabut after only 1 season, he returned to his previous club. He coached the Knight of Ad-Dahna and worked there until 1996. In 1999, Al Zayani joined

, but after a short time, he moved to Al Ittifaq, where he worked until 2000.

This Saudi Arabian coach and former footballer is one of the most outstanding names in Al Ittifaq, as he played and coached there for many years. Al Zayani, who is among the best Asian coaches of all time, won 1 First Division, 2 Saudi Professional League, 2 King Cup, 2 Arab Club Champions Cup, and 2 Gulf Cup for Clubs titles with Al Ittifaq and 1 AFC Asian Cup with the national team of Saudi Arabia.

Graham Arnold

Graham Arnold is also among the

best Asian managers of all time

. This Australian coach was born in Sydney on 3 August 1963. It is interesting to know that he has achieved the 2nd most victories in A-League with 111 wins. This brilliant manager is also one of the 3 managers who have won multiple A-League titles.

During his football career, Arnold kicked the ball for Canterbury-Marrickville, Sydney United, Roda JC, Liege, Charleroi, NAC Breda, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Northern Spirit. Having a look at the teams that this former footballer played for, it is seen that he kicked the ball in Australia, Holland, Belgium, and Japan.

During his managerial career, Arnold managed Sydney United, Northern Spirit, Australia U-23, Central Coast Mariners, Vegalta Sendai,

, Australia U-23, and the national team of Australia, where he has been managing since 2018.

Graham Arnold, who is one of the greatest Asian coaches of all time, has won 2 A-League titles and 1 Austrian Cup with Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC.

Heshmat Mohajerani

The next name on our list for the best Asian managers of all time is the Iranian former footballer and manager, Heshmat Mohajerani. This brilliant coach was born in Mashhad, Iran on 13 December 1939 and began kicking the ball at Aboomoslem in 1955. He played for this team for 3 years and in 1959, he moved to Taj.

In 1961, the senior career of this former midfielder started and he kicked the ball for Taj until 1963. Mohajerani then joined Pas, where he played until the end of his career in 1968. As a footballer, he won 3 Tehran Football League titles and 1 Tehran Hazfi Cup with the Blues of Tehran.

In 1971, Mohajerani’s managerial career started with Iran U-20. He managed this team until 1976, as well as coaching Iran U-23 from 1972 until 1975. After that, this brilliant coach went on to manage the national team of Iran and worked there until 1978.

In 1979, Mohajerani joined the Emirati club, Al Shaab, where he spent the 1979/80 season. This brilliant manager then moved to the national team of Emirates, where he worked for 4 years. Then he went on to manage Al Wahda, another Emirati club, and worked there until 1986.

In 1992, Mohajerani was appointed as the head coach of the national team of Oman and coached this team for 2 years. In 1998, this brilliant manager joined the Qatari club, Al Ahli, and managed this team for 1 season.

Heshmat Mohajerani, who is one of the greatest Asian coaches of all time, won 4 AFC U-20 Asian Cup titles with Iran U-20, AFC Asian Cup 1976 with the national team of Iran, and 1 UAE Union Cup with Al Wahda.

Park Seong-hwa

The next manager among the best Asian managers of all time is Park Seong-hwa. This South Korean manager was born in Ulsan on 7 May 1955 and started playing football professionally at Pohang Steelers in 1978. After spending 1 season at this club, he joined ROK Army in 1980 and again after 1 season, he left the club.

Park Seong-hwa moved to Hallelujah FC in 1982 and kicked the ball for this team for 3 years. in 1986, this South Korean former footballer joined

, where he ended his career in 1987.

As a football player, Park Seong-hwa won 1 Korean Semi-professional League with ROK Army and 2 K League titles with Hallelujah FC and Pohang Steelers. His managerial career began in 1992 with Jeju United.

During his coaching career, this brilliant coach worked at Jeju United, Pohang Steelers, South Korea U-20, Busan IPark, South Korea U-23, Dalian Shide, the national team of Myanmar, Myanmar U-23, and Gyeongnam FC.

Park Seong-hwa, who is among the best Asian coaches of all time, won 1 Korean League Cup with Yukong Elephants, 1 Korean FA Cup and 2 AFC Champions League titles with Pohang Steelers, and 1 AFC U-20 Asian Cup with South Korea U-20.

Kim Ho             

The next name among the best Asian managers of all time is Kim Ho. This South Korean player and coach was born in Tongyeong, Gyeongnam on 24 November 1944. He started playing football professionally at Cheil Industries in 1964. This former footballer then played for Gimcheon Sangmu FC, Yangzee, Cheil Industries once again, and Commercial Bank of Korea until he finished his career in 1973.

As a football player, Kim Ho won 2 Korean Semi-professional League titles with Cheil Industries and 1 Korean President’s Cup with Commercial Bank of Korea. His managerial career started in 1982 at Hanil Bank.

Kim Ho then worked for South Korea B, Ulsan Hyundai FC, the national team of South Korea,

, and Daejeon Citizen. As a manager, he won 2 Korean Semi-professional League titles with Hanil Bank, 2 K League titles, 1 Korean FA Cup, 4 Korean League Cup, 2 Korean Super Cup, 2 AFC Champions League, and 2 Asian Super Cup titles with Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

Choi Kang-hee

Choi Kang-hee is also one of the

best Asian managers of all time

. He was born in Yangpyeong, Gyeonggi, South Korea on 12 April 1959. This former footballer started kicking the ball professionally at Hanil Bank in 1979. During his career, he also played for ROK Army, Pohang Steelers, and

, until he retired in 1992. Kang-hee won 1 Korean League Cup with Ulsan Hyundai as a player.

During his managerial career, this brilliant coach worked for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, the national team of South Korea, Tianjin Quanjian, Dalian Yifang, and Shanghai Shenhua. He won 6 K League titles, 1 Korean FA Cup, and 2 AFC Champions League titles with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and 1 Chinese FA Cup with Shanghai Shenhua.

Kurban Berdyev

The last name on our list for the best Asian managers of all time is the Turkmen football manager, Kurban Berdyev. He was born in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan on 25 August 1952. During his football career, Berdyev kicked the ball for Kolhozcy Asgabat, FC Kairat, FC SKA Rostov-on-Don, and FC Rostselmash Rostov-on-Don.

The managerial career of this Turkmen coach began in 1986 with FC Khimik Dzhambul. Berdyev has also managed FC Taraz, Genclerbirligi, FC Kairat, FC Caspiy, Nisa Asgabat, the national team of Turkmenistan, FC Kristall Smolensk,

, and

. Since 2021, he has been working for Kairat.

Kurban Berdyev, who is one of the best Asian managers ever, has won 1 Turkmenistan Higher League and 1 Turkmenistan Cup with Nisa Asgabat, and 2 Russian Premier League titles, 1 Russian Cup, and 2 Russian Super Cup with Rubin Kazan.

This was our article on the best Asian managers in history. Thanks for reading. Do YOU want to add any names? Share it with us in the comment section.       

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