Eyjolfsson: This China group has good potential

• Siggi Eyjolfsson allocated China PR’s fourth unfamiliar coach
• Icelander aiming to take Steel Roses to France 2019
• Tactician also tasked with building a group for Tokyo 2020 

For some, coaching a world’s many populous republic is a singular possibility to be grasped. It is a pursuit that quite excites Siggi Eyjolfsson, one literally and figuratively thousands of miles from a small republic of Iceland that he calls home.

Now a former trainer of a European island’s women’s group binds a reins of a Steel Roses, replacing Frenchman Bruno Bini in Nov to turn China PR’s fourth unfamiliar manager in history. It was an appointment that had an present impact on him.

“I am really vehement and, particularly, we am deeply celebrated that a Chinese Football Association (CFA) offering me this job,” a 44-year-old told FIFA.com. “It is a biggest honour we can have as a manager to conduct a inhabitant group and this is my second time.”

Coming from a nation with a race of usually 340,000, a Reykjavik-native’s choice for a purpose incited a few heads. It is a fact that still leaves media and fans preoccupied though Eyjolfsson believes that his appointment is a covenant to a considerable footballing swell Iceland has done in new years.

“Good coaches can come from anywhere, usually like good players,” he smiled. “Iceland is small in race though we are by no means small in terms of football development. Both a men’s and women’s inhabitant teams are among a tip 20 in a FIFA World Ranking. we have 13 years’ knowledge of operative with a Football Association of Iceland and we coached a women’s group for 7 years. we am really unapproachable to have offering my partial of grant in a success.”

Notable pedigree
Indeed, a achievements Iceland women’s group done during Eyjolfsson’s reign between 2006-13 pronounce for themselves. He twice took his side to a UEFA Women’s Championship, in 2009 and 2013, and went all a approach to a final in a 2011 Algarve Cup usually to be edged by USA. It is a record a manager stays unapproachable of 6 years on.

“It was a miracle achievement,” he reflected on their noted Algarve campaign. “We managed to kick a likes of Sweden, Denmark and China to strech a final. We finished second place, forward of Japan who were third. It was an feat that helped a women’s diversion acquire some-more approval and a group pull tellurian attention.”

Eyjolfsson had a possibility of proof himself over his possess shores when he was allocated as conduct manager of Chinese Women’s Super League side Jiangsu Suning during a start of 2017. Under his guidance, Jiangsu, a side that narrowly avoided relegation a prior season, finished among a top-three in his initial year in assign and, even some-more significantly, claimed a FA Cup.

The central pull for a AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2018 is complete! #WAC2018 #Jordan2018
Group A:
Group B: pic.twitter.com/NUSxViol54

— AFC (@theafcdotcom) December 9, 2017

Great expectations
Eyjolfsson’s initial exam in assign of China will come in this April’s 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, that also serves as qualifiers for a 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France. With a small over usually 3 months to ready a team, he pronounced that they should work opposite a time if they are to strech a tellurian showpiece.

“You need to dream large and afterwards work tough if we wish to realize those dreams,” he said. “Our rivals are strong. We mislaid to Australia in new friendlies and both Japan and Korea DPR are aloft than us in a FIFA World Ranking. The opening in peculiarity that exists between a teams can’t be ignored. We contingency urge to contest opposite them.”

Despite a plea faced by them, Eyjolfsson has high hopes for his team, carrying spent his initial integrate of months in charge. “This is a group with good potential. They sight tough each day and they are fervent to improve.

“We need to organize a patrol with a best players. Then we can gradually work towards a goals, that are subordinate for a subsequent Women’s World Cup, relocating a position adult in a FIFA World Ranking and building a rival group for a subsequent Olympic Games during Tokyo 2020.”

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/newsid=2925653/index.html?cid=rssfeed&att=