Vincenzo Alberto Annese joins as Nepal NT head coach

He led NorthEast United to their only win of the ISL 2022-23 season.

The Nepal National Football team have roped in Vincenzo Alberto Annese as their head coach, after he had an underwhelming tenure with NorthEast United in India. A total of 168 applications were received by the ANFA and Annese was selected out of a shortlist of 20.

Nepal are currently ranked 175th in the world. Their previous head coach was Prabesh Katuwal. The Gorkhalis reached their highest ranking of 78 in 1993-94.

About the head coach

38-year-old Vincenzo Alberto Annese guided Gokulam Kerala to their first league win in the 2020-21 I-League season. His team went on a record 21-game unbeaten run, and Gokulam Kerala became the first I-League team to win consecutive league titles.

Earlier, he had coached the Belize national football team and clubs from Ghana, Indonesia and Latvia. He was the technical coach of Armenia across youth levels.

Most recently, Annese coached NorthEast United following Marco Balbul’s sacking mid-season. The Highlanders won their first and only game of the season under Annese’s tenure, beating giants ATK Mohun Bagan.

He won the Syed Abdul Rahim award for the best coach in the I-League in 2021-22.

NorthEast United's ISL 2022-23 season

NorthEast United had a difficult season, scoring just five points throughout with one win, two draws, and 17 losses. They finished bottom of the table, setting records for the lowest cumulative points scored in a single ISL season. Marco Balbul was sacked after managing no wins, and Annese had took charge in December to give the side their first and solitary win of the campaign. Notably, they managed two draws, against FC Goa and East Bengal.