SEA Manager Focus – AFF Cup Semi Finals

Malaysia - Tan Cheng Hoe

Age: 50

Nationality: Malaysia

Age: 50

Notable Past Job: Kedah FA

Background: Tan Cheng Hoe was an assistant coach to K. Rajagopal from 2004 until 2013. With Rajagopal and Tan's combination, Malaysia achieved many positives results, such as reaching the quarter final of 2004 AFC Youth Championship, qualify on merit for the 2006 AFC Youth Championship, as well as winning the 2009 SEA Games and 2010 AFF Championship. In 2015, he was appointed as a Kedah coach and helped Kedah win the second division and gain promotion to the Super League. He won Malaysia Cup, finishing third in Super Leagua and reaching the FA Cup Semi Final in the next season. In 2017, he made a return as the assistant coach of Malaysia under Nelo Vingada. He finally took over as Malaysia head coach after Vingada stepped down following a string of poor results.

Performance So Far: Tan Cheng Hoe has done a good job so far despite losing to Vietnam. He is a trainer who likes to take risks. With a record three wins and one defeat, Tan Cheng Hoe's ability is still questioned by Malaysian football fans. He will have to prove to Harimau Malaya supporters that he deserves to be in that position with a victory over Thailand.

Thailand - Milovan Rajevac

Age: 64

Nationality: Serbia

Notable Past Job: Ghana National Football Team (2008-2010)

Background: Milovan Rajevac started his coaching career with several Serbian clubs before making a name for himself by taking the Ghana national team to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Managing the likes of Asamoah Gyan, André Ayew and Kwadwo Asamoah; Rajevac's "Black Stars" are regarded to be one of the greatest African sides ever, and would have been the first team from the continent to qualify for the semi-final if it wasn't for Luis Suárez's infamous hand-ball.

Performance So Far: Thai fans expect big things from Rajevac and luckily Thailand's AFF Suzuki Cup campaign seems to be going pretty well so far. The 5-time champions have scored 15 goals in just 4 games, breaking the 22 year old record of total group stage goals and finishing as group B winners. Under Rajevac's stewardship, Thailand have become much more tactically astute, and it will be interesting how they cope with Bukit Jalil's hostile atmosphere.

Philippines - Sven-Goran Eriksson

Age: 70

Nationality: Sweden

Notable Past Job: England National Football Team (2001-2006)

Background: Sven is still chasing hist first silverware in international level. The Swedish coach managed England (2001-2006), Mexico (2008-2009) and Ivory Coast (2010) in his career, but is yet to win a any major honors. His most successful era was just before the turn of the century, taking Italian club S.S. Lazio to win an unprecedented treble of domestic honors in 1999-2000. The season before, Gli Aquilotti also won the last ever UEFA Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Super Cup under his guidance.

Performance So Far: Eriksson is a notable name amongst the tournament's semi-finalists. He signed a six-month contract with the Philippines' Football Federation, with his main goal being to help the Azkals' do their best at the 2018 AFF Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup. The semi-final spot is not bad, but Sven will be tasked with taking them to their first ever final, after the good results he earned in the Group of Death with Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore.

Vietnam - Park Hang-Seo

Age: 59

Nationality: South Korea

Notable Past Role: South Korea U23 National Team

Background: Park Hang-Seo was an assistant to famous coach Guus Hiddink in a historic World Cup 2002 campaign that lead the South Korea team to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup. He also guided the South Korea's Olympic Team to the same stage of the men's football tournament at the 2002 Asian Games.

Performance So Far: Park took Vietnam to an impressive semi-final appearance at the 2018 Asian Games, and that good form carried over into their group stage performances at this tournament. Vietnam is the only team that have not conceded any goals in all four group stage games. However, it seems like the Korean mastermind has not showed his best hand at the tournament so far.