Traditional powerhouses Abahani Limited and Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited are set to retain Mario Lemos and Sean Lane as the head coach of the club respectively for the third consecutive season.
The European coaches are expected to arrive in Dhaka in November ahead of the season-opening Federation Cup the following month, informed the officials of the respective club to Dhaka Tribune.
“Lemos will stay here for the upcoming season. The club will start preparation camp from the first week of November. Coach will come at the end of the month,” said Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu.
The Portuguese tactician joined the six-time Premier League champion at the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
Under his guidance, Abahani achieved unprecedented success at the AFC Cup 2019 by qualifying for the knockout stage, and won the Federation Cup, but lost the league title to Bashundhara Kings.
Before the suspension of the 2019-20 season of Bangladesh Premier League due to Covid-19, Abahani sat second behind Lt. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Limited after five rounds of fixtures.
Mohammedan also made remarkable improvement since British-born Australian coach Lane joined the side during the first phase of BPL 2018-19.
The club manager Imtiaz Ahmed Nakib confirmed Lane's stay as well as British assistant coach James McAloon at the club for one more season.
“The agreement was made before he (Lane) left us when the league was postponed. We have sent invitation letter so that he could join the team by the time camp starts in mid-November,” said Nakib.
Brothers Union also want to bring back last season's Iranian origin German coach Ali Parkas.
Amer Khan, the manager and one of the club's directors, said, “We want to bring him again, not early for the Federation Cup due to budget limitation, but only for the league.”
Saif Sporting Club are unlikely to retain the service of veteran Croatian head coach Drago Mamic for the 2020-21 season.
Club manager Mahbubur Rahman said, “We may change the head coach. The club are looking for two-three options as replacement of Drago. Nothing decided yet.”
Bashundhara already began pre-season camp more than a month ago under Spanish coach Oscar Bruzon.
Among two former BPL champions, Sheikh Jamal decided to retain Shafiqul Islam Manik as head coach while Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra are yet to finalize the appointment of Saiful Bari Titu.
Chittagong Abahani Ltd are set to keep Maruful Haque as head coach for the second straight season.
