Football
Jason Dasey 8y

Australia's Darren Stewart appointed Maldives coach after S.League success

Singapore-based Australia international Darren Stewart, an accomplished former S.League manager and player, has been appointed head coach of the Maldives for their upcoming AFC Asian Cup playoff.

The 50-year-old takes over the position after the departure in June of Ricki Herbert, New Zealand's 2010 World Cup boss.

Stewart will fly to Male on Thursday ahead of the two-legged playoff against Laos on Sep. 6 (home) and Oct. 11 (away).

"Somebody recommended me ... I am not sure who it was, but when the job was offered I accepted it straight away because chances like this don't come along very often," Stewart told ESPN FC.

"I'm under no illusions that I need to get a positive result in the playoff to stay on in the role. It adds pressure but I have no problem with that."

Having spent a decade and a half in Singapore, Stewart is a former head coach with S.League clubs Gombak United, Balestier Khalsa and Woodlands Wellington. Since leaving Woodlands at the end of 2014, he's worked mostly as a junior coach for Little League Soccer in Singapore.

A strong defender, he played in Australia's National Soccer League for more than a decade for clubs inclduing Apia-Leichhardt and Blacktown City and was an import player for Johor in the Malaysia Super League. He finished his career with Balestier Khalsa in the S.League in 2001.

Born and raised in the Newcastle area, north of Sydney, he earned three Socceroos' caps in 1992.

"I've had a couple of decent offers in Singapore and Malaysia but after nine years as a head coach in the S.League, I needed to get my head clear and recharge my batteries," he said.

"I will have only 10 days with the Maldives players before the playoff against Laos. It's not a lot of time, but I will do my best because there's no alternative. I am a pretty determined sort of guy."

If Maldives defeat Laos, they will advance to next year's third round of qualification for the 2019 Asian Cup, alongside the likes of Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines.

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