- Almutairi departs with mutual consent
- Umar optimistic Kuwaiti national could be lured back
Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) President Jaswar Umar says that they will make an effort to lure back National Team Head Coach Abdullah Almutairi for a new contract.
This was after the former Coach confirmed via a Facebook post on Friday (23) that he had officially concluded his stint in the island nation.
Umar stated that the Kuwaiti national, who lined up with Sri Lanka two years ago following the departure of then Head Coach Andy Morrison, had only completed the first phase of his contract and expressed optimism that Almutairi could be persuaded to return to Colombo.
“Only the first phase of his contract ended,” Umar remarked. “Therefore, we intend to renegotiate a fresh contact with him (Almutairi) and I am quite confident we will be able to get him back after formal negotiations are over.”
The FFSL head also confirmed that Almutairi, in all probability, would be in charge of Sri Lanka’s final Group D fixture against Chinese Taipei to be played on 31 March in Taipei as part of the 2027 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup Qualification Tournament.
Umar, however, could not be drawn on whether they would have any contingency plans in place in the event of a failure to entice the former Coach to return to the country.
However, Almutairi, 44, in his post had emphasised that his contract with the FFSL had ended by mutual agreement.
Reflecting on his tenure, the outgoing Coach, who had also trained Nepal, conveyed his appreciation to all those who had contributed to Sri Lankan football during his time in charge.
“I would like to share that my contract with Football Sri Lanka (FSL) has come to an end by mutual agreement between all parties,” Almutairi wrote.
“I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone I had the honour of working with during this wonderful journey.”
The Coach also thanked Sri Lankan football fans for their unwavering support, and commended the players for their steadfast commitment, discipline, and fighting spirit.
He also graciously acknowledged the efforts of the coaching staff and support personnel, who had worked from behind the scenes to drive the team forward.
The Kuwaiti national also reserved special appreciation for FFSL President Umar, whose trust and unstinted support, according to the former, had played a critical role in Sri Lanka’s football resurgence, where they had improved their position in FIFA World Rankings from 207 to 193.
He observed that solid leadership from the local federation had allowed Sujan Perera’s team to grow both technically and mentally on the global stage.
Under Almutairi’s watch, Sri Lanka displayed marked improvement in performance and competitiveness, posting notable triumphs against higher-ranked teams and thereby gaining increased respect in the South Asian football circuit.
Enhanced tactical discipline, improved fitness levels, and stronger team unity were widely perceived to be crucial areas of progress under the leadership of the outgoing Coach, who was also known to wear his heart on his sleeve during internationals.
One of the standout moments of Almutairi’s time in charge of the ‘Golden Army’ was their qualification to the second round of the 2027 AFC World Cup Qualifiers – a major landmark for the country and a significant step forward in its footballing trajectory.
It was also under his tutelage that Sri Lanka beat Turkmenistan 1-0 for the first time in history in Colombo in early October last year.
As he exits, Almutairi also expressed his gratitude for all the experiences and memories, and in his unassuming manner, wished Sri Lankan football continued success.
According to football analysts, while Almutairi’s chapter as Coach has ended, the foundations laid during his 24-month tenure are expected to leave a lasting impact on the National Team’s future development.