Khadka appointed head coach of Nepal Men’s football team

KATHMANDU: Hari Khadka, who resigned as head coach of the Nepal women’s national football team six years ago, has been appointed as the interim head coach of the Nepal men’s national team.

The position became vacant after head coach Matt Russ stepped down. With Nepal set to play an international friendly against Bangladesh on Kartik 27 and an AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Malaysia on Mangsir 2, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) announced Khadka’s appointment on Friday.

ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai handed over the appointment letter to Khadka, who is also the association’s Technical Director.

Speaking after his appointment, Khadka said he accepted the responsibility due to the urgent circumstances.

“The situation demanded that I step in. In world football, the technical director assumes the role of head coach in times of crisis,” Khadka said. “This is both a challenge and an opportunity for me. I’ve accepted the responsibility that the situation has created, not out of personal desire.”

Khadka added that the process to appoint a permanent head coach with a Pro License has already begun. “I am taking charge until a new arrangement is made,” he said. “We will soon begin the process to appoint a qualified head coach.”

A former captain of the national team, Khadka previously served as assistant coach when Patrick Aussems led the men’s national team about a decade ago.

He resigned as head coach of the women’s national team in 2019 after Nepal lost 2–0 to India in the final of the 13th South Asian Games (SAG) held in Pokhara.

During his tenure, the women’s team reached four finals — the Hero Cup in India, the Najezda Cup in Uzbekistan, the SAFF Championship in Biratnagar, and the SAG final in Pokhara — finishing runners-up each time.

Under his leadership, Nepal also advanced to the second round of the Olympic qualifiers for the first time.