Star-Studded Line-Up at AFC Elite Club Coaches’ Forum

High-profile club coaches from across Asia including several from the AFC Champions League quarterfinalists gathered in Shanghai on Wednesday for the AFC’s Third Elite Club Coaches Forum.

Branko Ivankovic, the highly-experienced Croatian coach of Persepolis FC, from the West Zone whose team is involved in a tight game against Al Duhail of Qatar in the quarterfinals was among the attendees, the AFC website reported.

Also joining the forum was Winfried Schafer, the coach of Iran’s other quarterfinalists Esteghlal, whose team is facing Qatar’s Al Sadd.

Another top level manager at the event was two-time UEFA Champions League winner Paulo Sousa, now coach of Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian, who face Japan’s Kashima Antlers in the East Zone.

Choi Kang-hee, manager of another quarterfinalist Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC of South Korea and AFC Coach of the Year 2016 completed the four attending AFC Champions League representatives.

They were joined by coaches from Australia, Japan and China including Shanghai SIPG coach Vitor Pereira and Shanghai Shenhua’s Wu Jingui.

Other Chinese Super League representatives were Chris Coleman, who led Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and now coaches Hebei China Fortune and Li Xiaopeng of Shandong Luneng Taishan.

AFC technical director, Andy Roxburgh, who leads the two-day event, said: “These forums are so valuable because it allows the sharing of views and experience from across Asia. This year we have the opportunity to consider many elements of the game and also the chance to look in detail at tactical and logistical innovations from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and how it impacts a club coach.”