Eastern delight for Losada turns into double celebration, as team claim FA Cup and Hong Kong come calling with World Cup job
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Eastern head coach Roberto Losada had two reasons to celebrate on Saturday, his side won the FA Cup and Hong Kong officials confirmed his appointment as the city team’s assistant coach for this month’s World Cup qualifiers.
The Spaniard saw his team overcome a resilient Sham Shui Po side 3-2 at Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday, with all five goals coming in extra time.
Hong Kong football chief Eric Fok Kai-shan decided it was the best time to break the news, just when the Eastern players and staff were about to celebrate their sixth FA Cup title in club history, and the first since 2020.
Losada said the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, approached Eastern with the offer “a couple of days” before the final and he wanted to help the team on a temporary basis alongside interim head coach Wolfgang Luisser.
“They need more people around, I want to help the coach as much as I can,” he said. “I’m willing to sacrifice part of my holidays to help.
“It’s a good experience [going to a national team] even as an assistant coach, I can learn things and it’s a qualification for the World Cup. It’s beautiful.”
