De Kruif back in Bangladesh to lead U-17s

Former Bangladesh national football team coach Lodewijk De Kruif has returned to Bangladesh football, this time taking charge of the U-17 side ahead of the 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced the Dutchman’s appointment in a social media post on Thursday. He is set to take charge on an initial two-month contract.

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De Kruif remains a popular figure in Bangladesh football. He first took charge of the national team in 2013 and returned for several short-term, assignment-based stints over the years. Under his guidance, Bangladesh reached the final of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup in 2015.

He now faces a different challenge with the youth side. Bangladesh have been drawn in Group C of the 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers alongside hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Syria, Bhutan and Macau.

Securing a place in the main tournament will be a tough task for the U-17s. The UAE and Syria will provide strong opposition, while Bangladesh will look to make the most of their fixtures against Bhutan and Macau.