Ogura steps down as Singapore coach for personal reasons
June 24 (Reuters) - Tsutomu Ogura has stepped down as head coach of the Singapore national team for personal reasons, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced on Tuesday.
The Japanese coach took charge in February last year, guiding Singapore to the semi-finals of the ASEAN Championship.
"Mr. Ogura informed the FAS of his decision several weeks ago, citing the need to return to his home country to attend to pressing personal matters," it said in a statement.
"The FAS respects Mr. Ogura's decision and extends its sincere appreciation for his professionalism, commitment, and contribution to Singapore football during his time at the helm."
Following Ogura's departure, former Tampines Rovers head coach Gavin Lee will step in as the country's interim manager.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
Gareth Southgate to receive knighthood at Windsor Castle
Former England manager Gareth Southgate will be among those accepting honours on Wednesday as he receives a knighthood at Windsor Castle. The 54-year-old, who led the Three Lions to consecutive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024 and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, was recognised for his services to association football in the New Year Honours. He is the fourth England boss to be knighted, after Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson. Sir Gareth resigned from the role after eight years in charge following England's 2-1 final defeat to Spain in July last year, before being succeeded by Thomas Tuchel. In a social media post following the announcement in December, he joked that he was unlikely to be called 'Sir' by his family. 'It has been the greatest honour to represent my country as both a player and a manager for some 20 years and to be part of the game I love for almost 40. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing people and teams who have supported me both on and off the field,' he said. 'A special thank you to my family for their constant love and encouragement, though I must admit they've made it clear that the titles I hold at home will remain unchanged.' Sir Gareth won 57 caps for England as a player between 1995 and 2004 and played at three major tournaments, including the 1998 World Cup. He also had a distinguished 16-year career at club level, operating mainly as a defender for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough and making more than 600 appearances. Sir Gareth first joined the Football Association as head of elite development in February 2011 after being sacked as Middlesbrough manager, and went on to coach the under-21s side before his appointment as England manager, initially on a temporary basis, in September 2016. England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, when Sir Gareth turned the waistcoat into a must-have fashion accessory. The team then ended its 55-year wait for a men's final at Euro 2020, delayed 12 months by Covid, before being agonisingly beaten on penalties by Italy at Wembley. A late defeat to Spain three years later again saw the side just miss out on national silverware. Overall, Sir Gareth took charge of 102 matches and is the only manager of the England men's team to lead them to two major tournament finals. Giving an address at the University of London in March, he spoke about how the belief and resilience gained throughout his career in football had 'picked me up when I've been down, grounded me in success, and given me purpose amidst the noise of public life'. Sir Gareth was previously made an OBE for his services to football in the 2019 New Year Honours. British and Irish Lions wing Gerald Davies is also set to be knighted at the investiture ceremony for his services to rugby union and to voluntary and charitable service in Wales. Davies, 80, played for Wales for 12 years in the 1960s and 1970s and won three Grand Slams, and went on to serve as president of the Welsh Rugby Union between 2019 and 2023. Reacting to the honour, he told the PA news agency: 'I feel very emotional about it. I am surprised by it. Words are really quite inadequate to describe it. 'It comes out of the blue. I was dumbstruck in many ways, but you don't achieve these things on your own.'
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Lee Carsley snubbed for Saipan film role but hopes to write Hollywood movie script with Euros sequel with England U21s
LEE CARSLEY knew nothing about a potential role in new movie Saipan — but he is desperate to write his own Hollywood script in Slovakia. The England Under-21s boss was part of the Republic of Ireland's 2002 World Cup squad that witnessed the huge row between boss Mick McCarthy and captain Roy Keane. 4 4 In fact, it was Carsley and Jason McAteer that had to face the media the day after the explosive incident, which led to Keane walking out on the team. A trailer for the movie, starring Steve Coogan as McCarthy, has set tongues wagging. Unfortunately for Carsley, despite Oliver Coopersmith being cast to play McAteer, producers felt there was no place for the Young Lions chief. But the 51-year-old is more concerned about leading England to a second-straight Euro crown, with a semi-final against the Netherlands tonight. Carsley said: 'Holland are a team that we've been watching now for a while. 'They're very attacking, very expansive in the way they play. 'Technically very good. I really like the system that they play as well. 'We've spoken about making sure the Spain game can't be the highlight of our tournament. 'So the players are really determined. 'We've had a good couple of days training. We're looking forward to the game now.' England u21s clash with Germany SUSPENDED as stadium plunged into semi-darkness and players taken off pitch After Carsley's side slapped Spain 3-1 in the quarter-finals on Saturday, he is now hoping they produce another masterclass to sink the Dutch. He said: 'Ideally and I've spoken to the players about it, you want to coach a team where you watching them play and you're enjoying watching them. That Spain game and the second half of the Germany game, you are on the side, enjoying watching the players play and expressing themselves. 'You want foreign journalists to speak about our players the way we sometimes speak about their players, in terms of their technical ability or the way they can take the ball. 'We're definitely changing that perception of English players.' Holland coach Michael Reiziger has been impressed by the Young Lions. His side beat Portugal 1-0 last time out despite Ruben van Bommel's 21st- minute red card. 4 Reiziger said: 'They're not playing in a typical English style. 'They are playing really well with a lot of good quality and they are growing into the tournament. 'It will be a tough game but that is logical. 'We've watched every match of England. 'Two strong teams that love to play football, two teams that have quality. 'It is going to be an interesting game. We have some comparison with England. 'We started not that well but are getting better every time, resulting in the fact we won a game with ten men.' After over two decades of misery in penalty shootouts, Sir Gareth Southgate helped instil a no fear factor into England players, with the seniors winning three of their last four. And Carsley insists his lads are ready for penalties if it comes down to it tonight. He said: 'There's more of an awareness of penalties and the technique and structure that goes behind a shoot-out. 'We are fortunate to have a lot of players who take penalties for their clubs. 'It is very difficult to replicate the walk from the halfway line to the penalty spot, especially if you are not used to it. 'It's something Gareth pushed which filtered down the pathway. 'It is so important because of the amount of resources thrown at the senior team to be the best at shootouts. 'That awareness of how important they are has definitely trickled down and we have benefited from that.'
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Schoolteacher Christian Grey scores dream goal as amateur Auckland City hold Boca Juniors to a draw
June 24 (Reuters) - Christian Grey, a 28-year-old physical education teacher from New Zealand, scored against Argentine powerhouse Boca Juniors at the Club World Cup on Tuesday, offering the amateur side a fleeting moment of jubilation to make their participation in the elite tournament worthwhile. Grey's strike secured a 1-1 draw that sparkled like gold amid the rubble of Auckland City's tournament, a campaign that had seen the amateur side brutally exposed by a 10-0 hammering from Bayern Munich and a 6-0 defeat to Benfica. "I'm from a small town, a long way from here and a lot different to this environment. So it is somewhat of a dream," Grey said after the match. Auckland City's squad — comprising teachers, delivery drivers and tradesmen — had paid a heavy price for their footballing ambitions, quite literally. Many fund their own participation while juggling day jobs, a stark contrast to the millionaire professionals they faced on the pitch. The New Zealand club finished bottom of their group with just one point, but for coach Paul Posa, that single point represented a victory against overwhelming odds. "You can't begin to explain the odds that we're up against," Posa said. "Our club is tiny with the hugest heart. We got something today from the tournament, which was a just reward for everybody that's been working behind the scenes." The manager never lost faith despite the lopsided scorelines earlier in the tournament. "I always thought we had to score a goal. We've just worked so hard. Got a bit lucky in the first half, but I just knew we had to score." For Grey, the tournament caps what he described as "a long four years" of preparation with a club that relies primarily on volunteers. "That's been a tough trip. We've had some tough results, but I'm just happy for the team and the boys. I think we deserve it," he said. Now, Grey must swap the international spotlight for a pile of unmarked assignments accumulated during his school holidays, perhaps the most extraordinary ordinary transition in world football after the greatest tie in the history of the amateur club.
