Following weeks of speculation, Gary White has resigned as coach of the mens national team. The move comes just days after the departure of Mehmet Fatih Kale, the team’s technical director.
Although on paper, White’s second outing with Taiwan seemed underwhelming (5 wins, 2 draws and 10 losses), the reality of the situation was quite different. Sensing an overhaul was needed, the British-born manager dropped a number of established players from the national team set-up– including some he had coached during his first stint with Taiwan back in 2018.
In their place, a number of talented young players were given their national debuts, including Yu Yao-hsing, Chris Tiao, Kang Tae-won and Martin Baudelet. Additionally, Ange Kouamé and Jhon Benchy, two naturalized stars from Taiwan’s domestic league, were also called up and have quickly become key parts of the Blue Wings squad.
By the end of 2024, the signs of improvement were starting to show. Playing within a 3-5-2/3-4-3 structure, Taiwan had a clear tactical philosophy and were playing winning football again.
However, according to reports in Go Goal, when the CTFA approached White about extending his stay with Taiwan, the manager was clear he would not be returning. Initial conversations began six months ago and, reportedly, a second unsuccessful attempt to change White’s mind was also made in April.
The departure of White is another setback for the CTFA, given how the Englishman has now twice galvanized the national team set-up only to leave for other opportunities.
In December 2024, Taiwan were within minutes of effectively booking their first ever qualification to the EAFF Finals, only to lose in heart breaking fashion to Hong Kong. White was visibly furious at full-time– perhaps a sign that he felt that this was as far as he could take Taiwan under the current set-up.
Taiwan will now prepare for their upcoming Asian Cup game against Sri Lanka under the guidance of Chen Sing-an, the current manager of AC Taipei in the Taiwan Football Premier League. A former Taiwanese international player, Chen will return as interim manager for the second time, having previously done so in 2009.
Photo: Li Weiru (Go Goal)
Email: formosafootballblog@gmail.com 
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6 responses to “Gary White Resigns As National Team Coach”
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