Lion City Sailors FC announced on Monday the appointment of Jesús Casas as the club’s new head coach following the departure of Aleksandar Ranković.
The 52-year-old Spaniard has signed a deal through to the 2027/28 season and arrives in Singapore after serving as head coach of the Iraq national team from November 2022 to April 2025.
During his tenure, Casas led Iraq to the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup title and guided the nation to the knockout rounds of the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, including a 2-1 victory over Japan in the group stage.
Prior to his role with Iraq, the Spaniard was part of Spain’s national team coaching staff under Luis Enrique and also held a coaching position at English Premier League side Watford.
Ranković left the role last month after the Sailors’ 2-0 defeat to PKR Svay Rieng FC in Group B of the 2025/26 ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™, bringing to an end a two-and-a-half-year spell.
During that time the Serbian coach led the club to the Singapore FA Cup titles in 2023, 2024 and 2025, the 2024/25 Singapore Premier League crown as well as a run to the final of the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Two.
Casas is set to take charge of his first training session later this week and will be on the touchline when the Sailors face Albirex Niigata in the Singapore Premier League at Jurong East Stadium on Saturday.
Photo: Lion City Sailors FC
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