Westwood appointed as new head coach of Hong Kong team

HONG KONG - Ashley Westwood, former coach of the Afghanistan national team, has been named as the new head coach of Hong Kong, the country's football association revealed today.

Westwood, a former Manchester United trainee, replaces Norway's Jorn Andersen, who earlier this year took the former British colony to their first Asian Cup finals since 1968.

The 47-year-old Englishman previously coached Indian clubs Bengaluru FC and Punjab FC while also working with Malaysia's Penang FA and is confident he can lead the team to the Asian Cup when the tournament is held in Saudi Arabia in 2027.

"I don't have any reservations about the quality in Hong Kong," he said. "I've played here before with my Indian sides, I've seen their standard. I think there's good players here."