Asrat Haile (1951 or 1952 – October 2024) was an Ethiopian football manager of the country's national team. He was frequently called upon by the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) as a temporary caretaker of the national team, affectionately known as the Walya Antelopes. He managed the team during at least three different time periods in 2001, 2003 and 2004.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Asrat Haile | ||
| Date of birth | 1951 or 1952 | ||
| Date of death | (aged 72) | ||
| Place of death | Ethiopia | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2001 | Ethiopia | ||
| 05/2003 – 09/2003 | Ethiopia | ||
| 11/2004 – 12/2004 | Ethiopia | ||
Career
editHaile achieved regional success with the Ethiopia national team in the 2001 when he led his team to a win in the East and Central African Championship.[2] Because of their success in 2001 with Asrat Haile at the helm, Ethiopia jumped 17 spots in FIFA rankings to 138th.[3][4] However, the EFF chose to look for a new manager and signed German coach Jochen Figge in August 2002.[5] Asrat remained as assistant coach. He began to loss of popularity among the fans during this time as he was blamed for the team's failures in 2002 under coach Figge;[6] especially for their abysmal performance at 2002 CECAFA Cup in which the Walya Antelopes lost all four games in Group B.[7]
In May 2003, Asrat was nonetheless re-appointed to the position interim head coach after the dismissal of Figge for allegedly failing to provide the proper documents for the position.[1][8] In his second short tenure as manager, Ethiopia failed to qualify to the 2004 African Cup of Nations, extending to 22 years their streak of no appearances at the continental tournament.[1]
In September 2003, Asrat was replaced by Seyoum Kebede as new permanent head coach.[9] However, Seyoum's stay with the team was not much longer than Figge's.
In December 2004, Asrat was again appointed manager of the Walya Antelopes just two weeks before the 2004 CECAFA Cup. He led Ethiopia as they won the tournament for the second time under his stewardship and for the third time in Ethiopian football history.[10][11][12] However, he announced immediately after the tournament that he would be resigning as coach. He said: "I wouldn't accept any contract offer from the EFF to coach the national [team]."[6]
Death
editHaile died in October 2024, at the age of 72.[13]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Ethiopia need professionals". BBC. 11 July 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "2001 East and Central African Championship (CECAFA)". R.S.S.S.F. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "African countries leap up Fifa rankings". BBC. 16 January 2002. Retrieved 17 April 2013.
- ^ "Best/Worst Ranking". FIFA. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "All change at the top". BBC. 21 August 2002. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ a b "Ethiopia without a coach". BBC. 26 December 2004. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "2002 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup". BBC. 13 December 2002. Archived from the original on 10 June 2004. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Ethiopia sacks Figge". BBC. 12 May 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Kebede gets Ethiopia job". BBC. 25 September 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Ethiopia ready for Cecafa". BBC. 10 December 2004. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Ethiopia through to semis". BBC. 19 December 2004. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Ethiopia win Cecafa Cup". BBC. 26 December 2004. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
- ^ "Legendary Ethiopian Football Figure Asrat Haile ('The Sword') Passes Away". Addis Insight. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 28 October 2024.