Jørn Andersen resigns as SAR head coach
Hong Kong football head coach Jørn Andersen announced on Wednesday that he has resigned with immediate effect. Andersen said he had received an offer "he couldn't refuse", without disclosing which club it came from. He told reporters that the local football association "had made every effort to retain" him, offering him a new three-year contract being as his original deal was due to expire next summer. "After much careful consideration, I have made a difficult decision and decide to take a new challenge, and step down as coach of the Hong Kong, China representative team," Andersen said at a press conference. "I have recently received an invitation from a club outside that presents an opportunity that I simply cannot refuse." The Norwegian thanked the Football Association of Hong Kong, China, as well as the SAR government, his staff, players and the fans for their support throughout "a fantastic journey" in the past two and a half years. "I thank all the players who train with me, play with me. And at last, I thank all the great Hong Kong fans who support us everywhere, wherever we were playing." Earlier this year, the coach, 61, had spoken to the press about the association not offering him a new contract. The association, for its part, said Andersen informed them of his intention to leave on Monday, and officially tabled his resignation on Wednesday.  Assistant coach Wolfgang Luisser has been named interim head coach, with Szeto Man-chun joining the coaching staff. Andersen took up the head coach role in late 2021. He is considered to have successfully changed the team's culture by playing with a high pressing, attacking style that was relatively rare in the SAR squad. In January, he led the team to its first Asian Cup berth since 1968, with the squad putting up inspiring battles despite defeats against Asian heavyweights Iran and the United Arab Emirates, as well as a surprising Palestinian team. Team Hong Kong, China also made history at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, when Andersen took the under-23 squad to advance to the semi-final stage for the first time ever.