Nolberto Solano replaces Stephen Constantine as Pakistan football coach

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has made a bold move by appointing former Newcastle United and Peru midfielder Nolberto Solano as the new head coach of the national football team.

Solano’s first assignment will be to lead the Pakistan Under-23 team in the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers scheduled for September in Cambodia. He will also take charge of the senior national team for the remaining Asian Cup Qualifier matches succeeding outgoing coach Stephen Constantine under whose guidance Pakistan advanced to the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time in history.

The 50-year-old Solano is a legendary figure in football, having represented Peru in 95 international matches between 1994 and 2009, scoring 20 goals. He was a standout player for Newcastle United, making 172 appearances during his first stint with the Premier League club from 1998 to 2004 and playing another 58 matches from 2005 to 2007 during his return.

Solano also served as assistant coach to Argentine manager Ricardo Gareca during his tenure with the Peru national team from 2015 to 2022. Notably, he was part of the coaching staff when Peru qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The duration of Solano’s contract with the PFF has not yet been disclosed.

“We will let you know about the details soon,” a senior PFF official told Nukta when asked about the specifics of Solano’s agreement.

Challenges Ahead

Coaching the Pakistan national team will be no easy task for Solano. While Pakistan has maintained a sporadic presence on the international football stage in recent years the sport has faced deep-rooted challenges over the past decade. FIFA suspended Pakistan three times during this period leading to a complete halt in domestic football activity and lost generation of homegrown players who missed the chance to represent their country.

Despite these setbacks Pakistan managed to field competitive teams thanks to a steady stream of overseas-based players who played crucial roles during times when the coaching staff struggled to assemble a national squad.

It remains to be seen what coaching philosophy Solano will bring but he will need to work diligently to scout and develop local talent primarily through domestic competitions, including the Premier League which the PFF is currently working to strengthen. The establishment of a strong league system is essential for building a competitive national side though this is a long-term process that requires a complete restructuring of Pakistan’s football framework.

According to sources, Solano’s initial agreement with the PFF is expected to span one year. If he makes a strong impact his tenure could be extended. This correspondent has learnt that Solano will be paid directly by the PFF.

Argentine fitness coach Jorge Castañeira will also join Solano’s staff, serving as fitness coach for the senior men’s national team.

It is still unclear whether Solano plans to bring in additional foreign support staff. However, retaining a local goalkeeping coach and at least three highly qualified Pakistani assistant coaches would be a valuable move. This approach could foster knowledge transfer and contribute to the development of Pakistan's coaching ecosystem.

Reactions

Former Pakistan assistant coach Nasir Ismail welcomed Solano’s appointment.

“He is a good choice and I hope he will deliver,” Nasir told Nukta.

“It will be a challenging time for him as Pakistan football has endured a lot. But given his glorious playing career his presence alone could leave a positive impact,” he added.

Veteran goalkeeper Saqib Hanif also expressed enthusiasm.

“It’s huge news and we are very excited to play under him,” Saqib said.