Solano lands in Pakistan to prepare U23 team

The former Newcastle United midfielder Nolberto Solano has landed in Pakistan to begin his first assignment as the head coach of the Pakistan national team and the U23 side. 

The Peruvian footballer, who also played for West Ham, Aston Villa, and Leicester City, took over the job from English coach Stephen Constantine, who was responsible for Pakistan creating history by qualifying for the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers in 2023. 

Solano will build the team to compete at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. They are placed in Group G with Iraq, Cambodia, and Oman. 

I’m very honoured to be in Pakistan as the Head Coach of the U23s and Senior team,” Solano said in a press release issued by the PFF. “We believe in the talent of our players, and I am here to show what we can achieve together." 

It’s no easy job, but we must work hard on and off the pitch. Our immediate focus is the AFC U23 qualifiers in Cambodia. We need to be strong mentally, bring our best players, and play with purpose. It would be a great moment for the country to qualify.” 

In a PFF Instagram post, Solano also gave a brief over view of his playing career, highlighting he shared the pitch with the football great, Diego Maradona, and he shed light on hist ambitions as a coach with Pakistan national sides.

Solano visited the Football House in Lahore and was received by the Acting General Secretary of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Muhammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar. During his visit, Solano also met with the PFF staff. 

I think this is a historic moment for the football of Pakistan," Khokhar told The Express Tribune. "Nolberto Solana not only carries a legacy as a world-class player and coach, but he thoroughly comprehends the process of team building and developing.

Additionally, he is super passionate about making Pakistan's presence noticeable on the global competitive stages."

However, when asked about what led to the switch from Constantine to Solano, Khokhar had very few words to add.

Solano will start with U23 because that was the event that was upcoming; he will later train the national team. As for Constantine, there really is nothing to comment on; he served well, and he completed his contract," said Khokhar. 

Solano, on the other hand, also extended his gratitude to the PFF president. 
“I want to thank Syed Mohsen Gilani for this opportunity. I’m looking forward to contributing to the growth of football in Pakistan.” 

PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani shared his confidence in the new coach, “Coach Solano brings great experience and a strong vision. We believe he can help take Pakistan football forward and build a competitive team.”

The national team’s training camp for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers began on August 14 in Abbottabad. 

A total of 50 players were initially selected through tryouts, and they later participated in the training camp, with the preliminary squad names being issued on August 14. The final 23-member squad will be announced at a later stage. 

As part of the qualifiers, Pakistan will play first match against Iraq on September 3, followed by a game against host nation Cambodia on September 6. The team will conclude the group stage with a match against Oman on September 9.