Bal Gopal Maharjan (, born 28 August 1975) is a Nepali former professional footballer and current head coach. He was in the squad which won the historic 1993 South Asian Games gold. After his retirement, Bal Gopal has been coaching different club and national Nepali teams.
Career His major achievement during his playing career was the 1993 South Asian Games gold medal. From 1991 to 1993, he played for Bangladeshi club Brothers Union. He also appeared with Indian side Mahindra United in 2001–02. After retirement, he started managerial career with Three Star Club.
Maharjan coached the national team to victory in the 2015 SAFF U-19 Championship and again in the 2016 Bangabandhu Cup. On 1 June 2016, Bal Gopal was appointed manager of Brothers Union on a three-month contract, thus becoming the first Nepali to lead a top-tier club in another country.
On 10 June 2018, he was appointed the assistant coach of the Nepal national football team under head coach Koji Gyotoku ahead of 2018 Asian Games.
On 25 August 2018, he was named the interim head coach of the national team from Koji Gyotoku, after the Japanese was entangled in visa issues.
On 8 September 2018, Nepal defeated hosts Bangladesh 2–0 to enter the semifinals of 2018 SAFF Championship. He was also coach of the Nepali team that won the 2021 Three Nations Cup, defeating Bangladesh.
Statistics
+ Record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordNepal1 January 201631 January 2016Brothers Union1 June 201620 August 2016Nepal (Caretaker)25 August 201831 December 2018Nepal (Caretaker)26 October 20209 December 2020Nepal10 December 20204 April 2021Total—
Honours
Player
Brothers Union Bangladesh Federation Cup (1): 1991 Nepal SAG Football (1): 1993
Manager Nepal U20 SAFF U-20 Championship (1): 2015 Nepal Bangabandhu Cup (1): 2016 Three Nations Cup (1): 2021 Nepal U23 South Asian Games (1): 2019
References
External links