The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) officially announced the appointment of Matt Ross as the new head coach of the Nepal national football team on March 2, ending a nine-month vacancy. Ross, an Australian coach, had arrived in Nepal a month earlier, and speculation about his appointment had been growing. His role was confirmed after a month of anticipation.
Ross’s appointment follows the departure of former head coach Vincenzo Alberto Annese, whose contract expired in May 2024. After the expiration, ANFA initially made no immediate decisions about a replacement. In September 2024, ANFA announced it would not extend Annese’s contract and invited applications for the role. Ross was selected from over 400 applicants.
During the interim period, Nabin Neupane served as the caretaker head coach for Nepal, overseeing two friendly matches against Tajikistan and Afghanistan.
Ross’s First Senior Men’s Head Coach Role
This is Matt Ross’s first appointment as the head coach of a senior men’s national team. Expressing his excitement, Ross spoke to ANFA TV about his short- and long-term goals for the team. He mentioned having closely followed local tournaments such as the Sahapathi Cup, Women’s International Tournament, and KP Oli Cup since arriving in Kathmandu.
Ross is particularly eager about Nepal’s upcoming participation in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, noting, “I am eager to see how we perform.”
Initial Challenge: Matches Against Singapore and Malaysia
Ross’s first challenge as Nepal’s head coach will come with a friendly match against Singapore on March 21, followed by an AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Malaysia on March 25. Both matches will be played away, and Ross emphasized the importance of preparation despite limited time.
He acknowledged the tough challenge of facing teams like Singapore and Malaysia and said, “These first two matches as head coach will be crucial. The key is to start training camp early and build relationships with the players.”
Ross stressed the importance of securing positive results in these qualifiers, expressing confidence in Nepal’s ability to earn points from Malaysia. “International football is always challenging. Our goal is to return with points from Malaysia,” he said.
Long-Term Goal: Winning the SAFF Championship
One of Ross’s long-term goals is to lead Nepal to their first-ever SAFF Championship title, something both the men’s and women’s teams have yet to achieve. Ross explained that in addition to improving rankings, a key aim is to focus on grassroots development, coach education, and women’s football.
He also spoke highly of the local players, praising their physical and technical strengths. Ross emphasized the importance of giving local players opportunities and highlighted the strong support shown by fans, especially during the Women’s International Championship.
“The support for the women’s team was incredible. Fans always provide extra energy and help take the team to new heights,” Ross noted. He urged Nepali supporters to continue backing the team, especially during the upcoming qualifiers against Malaysia.
About Matt Ross
Born in Newcastle, England, Matt Ross holds a UEFA Pro License and has an extensive coaching background. Prior to his appointment with Nepal, Ross was the assistant coach of South Korea’s women’s national team from 2020 to 2023. During his tenure, South Korea reached the final of the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, finishing as runners-up.
Ross also has experience coaching at the club level in Sweden with Vittsjö GIK, and in China with the U-15 women’s national team. His coaching career began in Australia, and he later expanded his expertise in Germany as a video analyst and coach, leading Frankfurt women’s team to the 2015 UEFA Women’s Champions League title.
Ross’s wealth of experience and leadership will play a pivotal role as Nepal aims to achieve greater success on the international football stage.
