Learn more
AFC Asian Cup: Jorn Andersen’s journey to Qatar with Hong Kong, after bettering Klopp, feud with Tuchel and revival in North Korea
- Hong Kong coach insists his team can reimagine what is possible after historic qualification and first win over China in nearly 30 years
- The obsessive Norwegian is tasting his first major finals aged 60, having qualified in 2019 with North Korea only to resign before it took place
Jorn Andersen said he was spending every waking hour in Qatar “planning, thinking and preparing” for one of the greatest challenges of his peripatetic coaching career.
Settled onto the cushioned furniture on a terrace of Hong Kong’s five-star hotel, gazing over the Doha skyline, Andersen considered the prospect of his first major tournament, and concluded: “This is not only great for Hong Kong, it is great for me, too.”
The 60-year-old’s belated arrival on this stage comes after he quit as North Korea manager before they played in the finals four years ago. And it is a reward for heading east after growing disenchanted with European football nearly a decade ago.
“I said, ‘F*** it, I want to go away from here, and take the step to Asia,’” he recalled. “I do not think I will ever go back to Europe to work. There are so many quality coaches, you lose two matches and you might be out. It is crazy, you cannot build something.”
It began less promisingly: pandemic restrictions prevented him managing a game or even seeing a single player in action during his opening six months, but he says he never considered walking away.
A football obsessive, his open notebook close to his side is obscured by magnets featuring the faces of his 26 squad members.
“When we are here, if we are not sleeping, we are thinking only about football,” Andersen said. “Planning, thinking and preparing. I have one or two hours a day for me to train, that is all.”
He did not drop off until 3am after this week’s friendly with Saudi Arabia. Hong Kong lost 2-0, but were unfazed by the team ranked 56th in the world, showing how far they had come.
Inevitably, for a man whose thoughts on the hotel began with a gushing verdict on the gym, it is based on hard work, but the formula has not always gone down so well.
Andersen was bruised by his dismissal from Mainz 05 on the eve of 2009-10, despite leading the German club into the Bundesliga in his one campaign in charge, a feat that eluded predecessor Jurgen Klopp the previous season.
He was succeeded by assistant Thomas Tuchel, the current Bayern Munich head coach, and their relationship soured.
“How he was when they put me out, and he came in, was not good,” Andersen said. “How he made his way was disappointing, but he has done well.”
Andersen was capped 27 times by Norway and, months before the 1986 World Cup, was part of a team that beat soon-to-be champions Argentina, Diego Maradona and all. He is not afraid of reputations, but as a coach soon earned one of his own.
“You take a team to the Bundesliga, then they kick you out, because you are too hard for them,” Andersen said. “Mainz is a small club, and the people managing it were not of a high level.
“I said that to compete we had to do more, to train harder, and build a new team. I played in the Bundesliga for 10 years, and know what is needed to compete. But they said, ‘Coach, you train too hard, and too much.’
“I left out players who criticised me, and that caused problems. Some had been there a long time, and were friends with the president and sporting director. They listened to the players before me.”
He would find willing accomplices eventually. After spells in Greece and Austria, Andersen admits North Korea “was not my plan”. “But after conversations with them, everything felt more positive. I knew if I did a good job, more eyes would be on me.
Hong Kong’s men into Asian Games football semi-finals with famous win over Iran
“They have the same high mentality as me, the players want to train twice every day, and focus only on football. We improved a lot.”
He won eight and lost only three of 15 matches in 21 months, but after securing Asian Cup qualification, with a victory over Hong Kong, Andersen resigned because of the country’s dire economic situation.
Andersen declined chances to coach the Thailand, Vietnam and India national teams in favour of South Korean club Incheon United, but lasted only 10 months.
His availability piqued the interest of Hong Kong officials, who got their man in December 2021. It has paid off well enough to allow a shift in mindset as Hong Kong prepare for UAE, who are 64th in the Fifa rankings, Iran, who sit 21st, and 99th-ranked Palestine.
“We know we are Hong Kong, ranked 150, one of the smallest teams in international football,” Andersen said. “The Asian Cup is the platform for the next step.
“We made history by qualifying; we reached the Asian Games semi-finals, and beat China. Now, no one here is saying we will lose three matches then go home.
“People are thinking maybe we can go to the next round. Two years ago, they did not think like that.”
Andersen is allowing Hong Kong football fans to dream, even if he does not have time in his day to enjoy that luxury himself.
Jorn Andersen said he was spending every waking hour in Qatar “planning, thinking and preparing” for one of the greatest challenges of his peripatetic coaching career.
Settled onto the cushioned furniture on a terrace of Hong Kong’s five-star hotel, gazing over the Doha skyline, Andersen considered the prospect of his first major tournament, and concluded: “This is not only great for Hong Kong, it is great for me, too.”
The 60-year-old’s belated arrival on this stage comes after he quit as North Korea manager before they played in the finals four years ago. And it is a reward for heading east after growing disenchanted with European football nearly a decade ago.
“I said, ‘F*** it, I want to go away from here, and take the step to Asia,’” he recalled. “I do not think I will ever go back to Europe to work. There are so many quality coaches, you lose two matches and you might be out. It is crazy, you cannot build something.”
It began less promisingly: pandemic restrictions prevented him managing a game or even seeing a single player in action during his opening six months, but he says he never considered walking away.
A football obsessive, his open notebook close to his side is obscured by magnets featuring the faces of his 26 squad members.
“When we are here, if we are not sleeping, we are thinking only about football,” Andersen said. “Planning, thinking and preparing. I have one or two hours a day for me to train, that is all.”
He did not drop off until 3am after this week’s friendly with Saudi Arabia. Hong Kong lost 2-0, but were unfazed by the team ranked 56th in the world, showing how far they had come.
Inevitably, for a man whose thoughts on the hotel began with a gushing verdict on the gym, it is based on hard work, but the formula has not always gone down so well.
Andersen was bruised by his dismissal from Mainz 05 on the eve of 2009-10, despite leading the German club into the Bundesliga in his one campaign in charge, a feat that eluded predecessor Jurgen Klopp the previous season.
He was succeeded by assistant Thomas Tuchel, the current Bayern Munich head coach, and their relationship soured.
“How he was when they put me out, and he came in, was not good,” Andersen said. “How he made his way was disappointing, but he has done well.”
Andersen was capped 27 times by Norway and, months before the 1986 World Cup, was part of a team that beat soon-to-be champions Argentina, Diego Maradona and all. He is not afraid of reputations, but as a coach soon earned one of his own.
“You take a team to the Bundesliga, then they kick you out, because you are too hard for them,” Andersen said. “Mainz is a small club, and the people managing it were not of a high level.
“I said that to compete we had to do more, to train harder, and build a new team. I played in the Bundesliga for 10 years, and know what is needed to compete. But they said, ‘Coach, you train too hard, and too much.’
“I left out players who criticised me, and that caused problems. Some had been there a long time, and were friends with the president and sporting director. They listened to the players before me.”
He would find willing accomplices eventually. After spells in Greece and Austria, Andersen admits North Korea “was not my plan”. “But after conversations with them, everything felt more positive. I knew if I did a good job, more eyes would be on me.
“They have the same high mentality as me, the players want to train twice every day, and focus only on football. We improved a lot.”
He won eight and lost only three of 15 matches in 21 months, but after securing Asian Cup qualification, with a victory over Hong Kong, Andersen resigned because of the country’s dire economic situation.
Andersen declined chances to coach the Thailand, Vietnam and India national teams in favour of South Korean club Incheon United, but lasted only 10 months.
His availability piqued the interest of Hong Kong officials, who got their man in December 2021. It has paid off well enough to allow a shift in mindset as Hong Kong prepare for UAE, who are 64th in the Fifa rankings, Iran, who sit 21st, and 99th-ranked Palestine.
“We know we are Hong Kong, ranked 150, one of the smallest teams in international football,” Andersen said. “The Asian Cup is the platform for the next step.
“We made history by qualifying; we reached the Asian Games semi-finals, and beat China. Now, no one here is saying we will lose three matches then go home.
“People are thinking maybe we can go to the next round. Two years ago, they did not think like that.”
Andersen is allowing Hong Kong football fans to dream, even if he does not have time in his day to enjoy that luxury himself.