Eastern coach Szeto Man-chun has resigned from the Hong Kong Premier League heavyweights after taking the blame for a series of poor performances by the 2016 champions.
He has been replaced by his assistant Lee Kin-wo.
The former Hong Kong international was removed on Friday, a day after they were thrashed by league leaders Kitchee 8-1 at Mong Kok Stadium. Diego Forlan, playing his second game in Hong Kong, started the game and contributed one assist as the defending champions continued their domination in domestic competition.
Szeto (C), new boss Lee Kin-ho (fourth from right) and former coach Chan Yuen-ting (second from right) pose with the rest of the Eastern staff. Photo: Chan Kin-wa
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Lee, the former Hong Kong captain, was immediately announced as the new boss ahead ofEastern’s crucial AFC Champions League qualifying match.
The Hong Kong side will host Thanh Hoa of Vietnam at Mong Kok on Tuesday and a victory will give them the opportunity to take on Suwon Bluewings in South Korea on January 30 for a place in the group stage.
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In a statement, the club said, “Head coach Sezto Man-chun has submitted his resignation which has been accepted by the management. He will remain as the administration manager of the club. His position will be taken up by assistant head coach Lee Kin-wo with immediate effect.”
A former Eastern player, Lee was a key member of the club during the most successful periodin the club’s history in the early 1990s, clinching the league championship three times in a row from the 1992-93 season and winning the FA Cup and Senior Shield in 1993 and 1994.
Then Eastern coach Chan Yuen-ting ahead of an AFC Champions League game in 2017. Photo: Chan Kin-wa
