Former US World Cup captain Thomas Dooley takes charge of Bangladesh football team

He is expected to focus on developing young players and strengthening squad structure

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has appointed former US Men's Team World Cup captain Thomas Dooley as the new head coach of the national team.

The appointment was confirmed on Friday morning, concluding days of intense administrative tension and discussions following the departure of his predecessor, Javier Cabrera.

The 65-year-old strategist takes charge roughly a fortnight before Bangladesh face San Marino in a friendly match on Jun 5, which will be the country’s first match against a European side.

Dooley brings a 43-year association with football, combining his playing and coaching career across multiple continents.

Born to an American father and German mother, he represented the United States from 1992 to 1999, featuring in two World Cups.

He made his World Cup debut in 1994 and led the US as captain in 1998.

After a 20-year playing career in Germany and the United States, Dooley shifted into coaching in 2002.

He later served as assistant coach of the US national team from 2011 to 2014 under Jurgen Klinsmann.

Dooley went on to manage the Philippines national team between 2014 and 2018, guiding them to an unbeaten qualification campaign for the Asian Cup and helping them reach their highest FIFA ranking.

He returned briefly to the Philippines in 2022 before taking charge of Guyana in 2025, where he won all four matches during his spell.

The BFF says Dooley is highly skilled in squad building and has strong understanding of Asian football dynamics.

It expects him to develop young Bangladeshi players and improve the national team’s competitiveness.