Gary White lands Hong Kong job as Football Association finally confirm new head coach after months of speculation
The former Taiwan boss is unveiled by Hong Kong Football Association on Monday, as he looks forward to ‘challenging role’
The Hong Kong Football Association confirmed Gary White has been appointed as head coach on Monday, after months of speculation linking the Englishman with the role.
“Mr White will join the HKFA as head coach to the men’s senior and the under-23 representative teams and will start in the week commencing September 10,” a release said on Monday.
“He will initially be based at the HKFA offices in Ho Man Tin before moving to the new Jockey Club Football Training Centre.”
White is happy to get the job, left open after the sudden departure of Kim Pan-gon late last year.
“Firstly I would like to thank the president, chairman and board of the HKFA for giving me this exciting opportunity. It is an honour to lead the Hong Kong team and I am very motivated to improve, progress and develop the team,” he said.
“I have been in the opposite dug out a few times and I can see the potential in the players, especially some of the younger guys coming through.
“The lead-in time to the first matches is short and I am looking forward to getting started on this challenging role.”
White has spent the previous six and a half years in Asia, finishing his stint with Taiwan just last Friday when they beat visitors Malaysia 2-0 in an international friendly in Taipei.
He was the head coach of Guam for four years from 2012 to 2016, followed by a brief spell of six months at China League One side Shanghai Shenxin.
After parting ways with the Chinese club, White was appointed the head coach and technical director of Taiwan a year ago.
“Gary joins us with a wealth of experience at international level having previously managed four senior international teams, his knowledge of football in Asia was also a factor we took into consideration in making this appointment,” HKFA chief executive Mark Sutcliffe said.
“I wish him well and call upon all football stakeholders in Hong Kong to get behind the new head coach and work with him achieve the success we all crave.”
White will spend his first few weeks assessing the players and meeting clubs. He will take charge of two international friendlies in October, against Thailand at home and Indonesia away before leading Hong Kong to the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) Cup second round qualifiers in November.
