Internet Desk: Sergio Farias, who was roped in by ISL franchisee North East United as their head coach for the season a couple of months earlier, is reportedly set to return to Thailand to re-unite with his former employers. The 48-year old was unveiled as coach by the ISL side, but reports suggest he will return to Suphanburi.
Suphanburi FC, a Thailand Premier League (TPL) club, had split ways with Spanish coach Ricardo Rodriguez recently, and have convinced Sergio Farias to return. Farias had coached the Brazil U-20 team in 1998-99 and 2001, before winning the AFC Champions League in 2009 with South Korean club Pohang Steelers. Under Farias, Pohang Steelers won the AFC Champions League and the K-League title in 2009, while he also guided the club to the title triumph in the Korean FA Cup in 2008, and a third-place finish at the Club World Cup in 2009.
All the ISL clubs were supposed to have a head coach by July 1, barring FC Goa, who are awaiting a verdict on the penalties levied for the ISL final fracas. With Farias defecting back to Suphanburi FC, ‘The Highlanders’ are in now trouble.
The Brazilian managed his country’s U-17 team and guided them to the title triumph in the 2001 South American Championship. Farias worked with former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho, at the U-20 level.