Hong Kong: Kitchee SC have appointed former Yugoslavia Footballer of the Year Blaz Sliskovic as head coach as the Hong Kong Premier League look to revive their fortunes after a disappointing 2018-19 season.
Kitchee, three-time Hong Kong Premier League champions, finished fourth last season and are determined to regain their position at the top.
Sliskovic, who arrived in Hong Kong on Wednesday, was unveiled as the new head coach on Thursday.
Kitchee president Ken Ng Kin said Sliskovic could bring them success with his vast experience, both as a player and a coach.
"He has an excellent record and we want him not only to train our players but also our coaches," said Ng. "We have no doubt of his knowledge and hope he can settle in Hong Kong as soon as possible."
"Kitchee is the best club in Hong Kong and I want to help them win the championship. That's why I am here," said Sliskovic, who has signed a two-year contract.
Kitchee have shown their intent ahead of the new season by signing several players, with the likes of striker Bleda Rodriguez, signed from rivals Eastern, and Southern's Willingsson Souza among those also unveiled on Thursday.
">https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzc5EEIl4E4/" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
View this post on Instagram
Old Faces x New Color ?We are Kitchee #99 #10 #11
The 60-year-old Sliskovic won his country's top player award in 1985 and was considered one of the most technically gifted players of his generation.
Sliskovic won 26 caps for Yugoslavia before representing Bosnia and Herzegovina three times in 1993.
He managed his national team from 2002 to 2006 and was the boss of HSK Zrinjski Mostar, a team in the Bosnian Premier League before joining Kitchee.
Kitchee's 2019 AFC Cup campaign ended in the group stage as they finished second in Group I. They, however, ended their campaign on a high after defeating group winners 4.25 of DPR Korea in their final tie.
Photo: Kitchee SC
Source: the-afc.com