Friday 17 / May / 2024
MUSCAT: Oman Football Association (OFA) hardly took a few minutes on Thursday to decide the fate of the senior team’s national head coach, Branko Ivankovic.
Moments after Oman drew with Kyrgyz Republic 1-1 in a Group F match of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which resulted in the elimination of the Red Warriors from the continental showpiece event, the OFA tweeted that they would be ending the contract with the coach.
It was an expected decision from the OFA after the national football governing body and its board members felt the heat following the unimpressive display of the national team at the AFC Asian Cup.
Much was expected from Ivankovic and the team at the Doha tournament after the Croatian led the Red Warriors to a runner-up finish in the 25th Gulf Cup in Basra, Iraq, last year in January. Iraq lifted the trophy with a 3-2 victory over Oman after extra-time.
Ivankovic, 69, was appointed Oman coach in January 2020 and his four-year stint saw him lead the Red Warriors in a total of 46 games. His report card as a coach saw him register 22 wins, 10 draws and 14 defeats, giving him a success rate of 47.83.
‘Not the desired result’
Speaking after the draw against Kyrgyz Republic, Ivankovic said: “Unfortunately, we did not achieve the desired result, which was victory and qualification. We were the better team for most of the match, and had many opportunities, but we did not exploit them well.”
He added: “Mistakes happen in football and despite predominantly being in control, we ended up conceding because of miscommunication in the final third.
“Kyrgyz Republic, on the other hand, had a good goalkeeper in their midst and also took advantage of their one golden opportunity.”
Asian Cup debacle
Ivankovic went into the Asian Cup on the back of wins against China and the UAE in friendlies but despite an impressive start in the opening match against Saudi Arabia, they lost narrowly 2-1. However, it was the goalless draw against Thailand that set the team in reverse gear. Pressure mounted on the coach to deliver in a do-or-die game against Kyrgyz Republic.
Oman led the game with an early goal in the 8th minute through Muhsen Al Ghassani but an 80th minute equaliser put paid to the dreams of Oman to advance into the Round of 16. It may be recalled that Oman had reached the last 16 round in the last edition of the Asian Cup in the UAE in 2019.
Historic win against Japan
The Croatian had replaced Dutchman Erwin Koeman in 2020.
One of the highlights during Ivankovic’s tenure in Oman was the historic 1-0 win over much-higher ranked Japan (World No.24) in the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier on 2 September, 2021, in Osaka, Japan. The other major achievement was Oman’s runner-up finish at the 25th Gulf Cup in Basra last year.
Ivankovic’s previous experience in Asian football saw him lead Iran to a third-place finish in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup before leading them to the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
He also won the 2010 Chinese Super League with Shandong Luneng before moving to Saudi Arabia with Al Ettifaq.
Ivankovic coached UAE’s Al Wahda in 2012 and after a brief stint with Dinamo Zagreb, he took charge of Persepolis FC and steered them to three consecutive league titles and the final of the 2018 AFC Champions League.
The veteran coach took charge of Saudi Arabia giants Al Ahli in June, 2019 but left after three months before arriving in Oman.
