The Lebanese Football Association has announced the signing of Serbian Aleksandar Ilic to replace Czech Ivan Hasek, whose contract expired about 4 months ago.
The federation said on its official website: “The Executive Committee of the Lebanese Football Association decided at its meeting (Wednesday) to sign a contract with Serbian coach Aleksandar Ilic, who will lead the Lebanese national team for the next three years, replacing Czech coach Ivan Hasek. The Serbian coach is due to arrive in Beirut early next week to sign the contract and carry out his training duties.
???? The Lebanese Football Association has announced the appointment of coach Aleksandar Ilić as first team coach pic.twitter.com/p23VeAQzsq
— Sports briefing (@KSA24Sport) August 3, 2022
The 53-year-old will be in charge of the Lebanese national team in preparation for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, to be determined by the host country on 17 October 2022 by the Continental Federation Executive Office.
He will also be tasked with a stand-in and replacement in preparation for the Asian qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Ilich has extensive experience in the Arab region, where he has coached the Saudi Al-Ahly in addition to Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Raed and Al-Batin, as well as the Iraqi Police team.
Ilić started his career as a defender in the Yugoslav Crvena Zvezda in 1990, after which he moved to Radnicki Nis, then to Cadiz from Spain and Baniliakos from Greece, then to Club Brugge from Belgium, where he won the championship (1998 ). and Cup (1996) and twice Super (1996 and 1998), as well as Anderlecht, a Belgian and contributed to League (2001) and Cup (2001 and 2002) wins before retiring with Dutch Vitesse Arnhem in 2004.
The Serb received a European training certificate “UEFA Pro” in 2008 and coached Radnički in 2010, then his first Arab stop was at Al Ahly from Saudi Arabia in 2011 for four months when he was an assistant to the Norwegian coach Trond Soleda. , and led him to the crowning of the King’s Cup champion, and then led Radnicki to the crowning of the Serbian League champions (2011-2012), and saved the Saudi pioneer from relegation twice (2016 and 2018), and then led the Iraqi police to win the local Super Cup (2019 ), then his last stop was with Saudi Qadisiyah last season.
Source: AFP