HONG KONG FA IN TALKS WITH COACH JORN ANDERSEN OVER NEW CONTRACT, CHAIRMAN ERIC FOK SAYS

Andersen repeats criticisms of city's Premier League at Hong Kong FA's AGM, having previously said he was open to offers from elsewhere
The Norwegian, who has led Hong Kong to their best ever Asian Games finish and first Asian Cup finals since 1968, is contracted until June 2025

The Hong Kong Football Association is in talks with national team head coach Jorn Andersen about renewing his contract, the governing body's chairman Eric Fok Kai-shan has said.

Andersen, whose current deal expires in June next year, has transformed the Hong Kong team since his appointment in December 2021.

The Norwegian last year led the city's team to their best ever Asian Games finish as they reached the semi-finals in Hangzhou, having already masterminded Hong Kong's first qualification for the AFC Asian Cup finals since 1968.

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After the finals in Qatar in January, in which a competitive Hong Kong team frightened Asian big guns United Arab Emirates and Iran in tight group matches, Andersen told the Post he was "open" to exploring new opportunities.

But speaking after the HKFA's AGM on Thursday evening, Fok said the governing body had taken the "first step" towards tying down Andersen to new terms.

"[Jorn's] contract is not up for another year, but the HKFA want to show our sincerity, and are going to give him a renewal offer earlier, and not wait until next year," Fok told the Post.

"We are in discussions with him right now. The HKFA is with the fans, and we all hope we are going to have Jorn Andersen leading Hong Kong."

Andersen signed a two-year contract extension in May last year, one month before his original deal was set to end.

Fok would not disclose the length of the new terms being offered.

"It is a discussion together, not so much about the framework of the contract, but [about] can we make Hong Kong football better, and what is the right arrangement for that?" he said.

"It is a two-way thing, but we want to take the first step. We are in talks and listening to his feedback, and want to come up with something that mutually works.

"We are together with the fans ... and want to give the best support to the Hong Kong team. We had good results at the Asian Games and Asian Cup, and we want to continue this ride."

Andersen said he had received "interesting offers" from elsewhere after the Asian Cup, and has publicly criticised the standard and professionalism of football in Hong Kong.

He repeated those damning evaluations when answering questions on stage at the AGM, only two hours after stepping off a delayed flight from Uzbekistan, where his team were beaten 3-0 on Tuesday to confirm their 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying exit.

Asked if he was confident of retaining Andersen, Fok said: "We have a contractual agreement; it is a question you have to ask him.

"What we can do is support him where we can, looking at the way forward for Hong Kong football. We are listening to many stakeholders, and many people involved.

"One, [we are working out] how can we support him better. Secondly, we have taken the first step to show our sincerity by offering this contract.

"Thirdly, hopefully we can have an agreement so we can work together and make Hong Kong football better."