Argentine football coach Andres Cruciani joined the Abahani Limited team on Tuesday ahead of the Independence Cup Football, the season’s inaugural tournament to start from Friday.
It is the second time of the Argentine coach is going take the charge of Abahani when the former coach of Bangladesh national team worked in 2007.
Title contenders Dhanmondi outfit Dhaka Abahani Limited will face off services team Bangladesh Air Force Football Team at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Moni Stadium in Gopalganj on the opening day. Three matches will be held on the day.
The Argentine was the head coach for Abahani Limited when the first time the professional Football League began in 2007. After sixteen years he joined the team again.
“Surinam proposed me as a head coach for their national football team. Bangladesh and Abahani Limited is very familiar to me, for that reason I have decided to take charge for the Sky Blues,” said Cruciani to media.
The veteran was also the head coach of Saif Sporting Club Limited, one of the Bangladesh Premier League team, who finished third in the league under him in 2021, now have already withdrew their name from the league. Cruciani takes new challenges for the Sky Blues, who could not regain the league trophy for last four season.
“Defending champions Bashundhara Kings are very strong team. There are so many national players who are playing in the team. I will try my level best to perform a better for the upcoming tournament. I have one target to become champion.” added the coach.
The Independence Cup start from tomorrow but the foreign players of the Sky Blues not return from their country till on Wednesday. The local players are familiar with Cruciani.
Cruciani was the head coach of Bangladesh national football team when they became runners-up in the 2005 SAFF Championship.
Abahani Limited cut ties with Mario Lemos and replaced the Portuguese with veteran Argentine tactician Diego Andres Cruciani.
Lemos, who joined Abahani in 2018 and guided the Dhanmondi giants for four consecutive seasons, shared a facebook post on Friday with the club's logo stating: “Thank you for everything Abahani!”
The Portuguese coach confirmed his departure, saying: “I always will be grateful to Abahani.”
Lemos started his journey at Abahani with guiding the club to the knockout stage of the AFC Cup for the first time ever after becoming South Asia Zonal champions.
Cruciani was a defender during his playing career and represented different Argentine clubs in the 1970s and 80s and also played for Argentina Under-20 national team.
After starting his coaching career in the 90s, Cruciani’s first team in South Asia was Bangladesh as he guided both the national side and then Abahani who later became BPL champions.
Abahani also changed the manager of the team by appointing the club’s former footballer and trainer Kazi Nazrul Islam replacing Satyajit Das Rupu.
