Former Iraq coach Jesus Casas to helm Lion City Sailors

SINGAPORE – The Lion City Sailors have named former Iraq national coach Jesus Casas as their permanent head honcho on a two-year deal.

In a media statement on Feb 23, the Sailors said the appointment of the 52-year-old Spaniard reflects the Singapore Premier League (SPL) leaders’ continued ambition “to build on its domestic success and improve its performances on the continental stage next season”.

Amid poor results on the regional and continental front, the defending SPL champions had parted ways with Serbian coach Aleksandar Rankovic on Feb 6 – less than a month after he led the Sailors to the Singapore Cup for the third time during a 2½-year stint which also yielded an SPL title.

Casas brings with him extensive international experience, a strong tactical acumen and a possession-based attacking philosophy, the Sailors added in the statement.

He will helm his first training session later this week and take charge of their SPL match against third-placed Albirex Niigata at Jurong East Stadium on Feb 28.

Tan Chin Heng, editor of supporters’ website SailorFanTalk, said Casas’ appointment is an “exciting” one, but not really unexpected as the Spaniard was linked with the Singapore national coach’s post in 2025.

He was one of two candidates who had flown in for face-to-face talks with Sport Singapore and Football Association of Singapore (FAS) officials.

Tan said: “Casas arrives with a solid resume and a proven track record in Asian football, but the news is not really a surprise given that he was in the running for the Singapore national team job just a few months ago.

“And there is clearly an overlap of the decision makers at FAS and at the Sailors.”

During his stint as Iraq coach from November 2022 to April 2025, Casas led the Middle East side to several creditable performances, most notably at the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, where they beat tournament favourites Japan 2-1.

That win, along with victories over Vietnam and Indonesia, ensured that the Lions of Mesopotamia topped their group for the first time since their victorious 2007 campaign, although they narrowly missed out on a quarter-final spot after losing 3-2 to eventual finalists Jordan in the last 16.

Casas also led Iraq to the Arabian Gulf Cup in 2023 and was previously assistant coach of English side Watford in 2018, when the Hornets were playing in the English Premier League.

Later that year, he joined the Spain national team as an assistant coach under current Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique.

Sergio Ramos, Sergio Busquets and Rodri were among the world-class players that he had worked with. 

Since Rankovic’s departure, assistant coach Varo Moreno took interim charge and guided the SPL leaders to a 2-0 win over the Young Lions, a 7-0 rout of Tanjong Pagar United and a 1-1 draw against title rivals BG Tampines Rovers.

The Sailors, who remain unbeaten in the SPL with 10 wins and a draw, are sitting pretty atop the eight-team table with a seven-point cushion over Tampines, albeit having played a game more.

But last season’s AFC Champions League Two finalists have made a group-stage exit in both the continental club competition and the Asean Club Championship this term.

Tan believes the timing of Casas’ appointment is quite fortunate for the Spaniard.

Having signed a contract through to the 2027-28 season, he now “has time to get to know the squad and implement his ideas while working towards a very achievable goal of delivering the league title in May”.

“He will then have the whole off-season to regroup and prepare for his first full season, an incredible luxury for a high-profile role that has very little room for error,” Tan added.