KARACHI (Kashmir English): The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced the appointment of Nolberto Solano as the new head coach and Jorge Castañeira as assistant coach for Pakistan’s senior and under-23 national teams.
“Under President Mohsen Gilani’s leadership, PFF proudly welcomes Nolberto Solano as Head Coach of Pakistan U23 with a pathway to the senior team,” said PFF in a short announcement.
The decision was approved by the PFF Executive Committee by a majority of 7:6. Seven out of 13 members approved the appointments while six opposed the decision.
The 48-year-old Peruvian, Nolberto Solano, brings a lot of experience to the role, both as a former top-level player and an accomplished coach.
He holds a prestigious Fifa CONMEBOL Pro Licence and has served as an assistant coach for Peru during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
His coaching skills were also instrumental in Peru’s impressive fourth-place finish at the 2021 Copa America.
Solano as a football player
As a player, Solano earned 95 caps for Peru and scored 20 goals. He played for renowned clubs like Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Boca Juniors, where he was celebrated for his skills.
Jorge Castaneira is an Argentine professional physical trainer with a strong background in football conditioning and tactical development.
He worked with Venezuela’s national side during their 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign and contributed to the success of clubs across South America and the Middle East.
His resume includes stints with Peru’s Club Deportivo Municipal and Real Garcilaso, where he helped secure high performances in domestic events and continental competitions.
Beyond his hands-on coaching, Castaneira is also an author, having written three books on soccer training methodologies, with a focus on speed, precision, and anaerobic performance.
The duo will be joining the Pakistan Football set up initially for one year.
Both the coaches have agreed to join the Pakistan Football teams and a final contract in this regard will be signed within few days.
