KARACHI
\nPakistan football\u2019s future and its recent past would\u2019ve been so different had Stephen Constantine not taken up the job as the national team coach.
\nIn an almost year-long stint, the Englishman helped take Pakistan to the promised land; the second round of World Cup qualifying for the first time in its history.
\nMasterminding that victory over two legs over Cambodia, Constantine ensured Pakis\u00adtan\u2019s national team would have at the very least three years of competitive football.
\nHe had set targets too, stating his ambition of steering Pakistan to a maiden appearance at the AFC Asian Cup finals in 2027.
\nBut Constantine wouldn\u2019t be there when Pakistan begin their campaign in the third round of Asian Cup qualifying in March next year after the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee announced the completion of his contract on Friday.
\n\u201cI want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the PFF NC for entrusting me with the incredible opportunity to lead the Pakistan national team through some of its most historic achievements,\u201d Constantine was quoted as saying in a news release.
\n\u201cThe unforgettable scenes at Jinnah Sports Stadium on October 17, 2023 when our 1-0 victory over Cambodia [in the first round of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup] secured Pakistan\u2019s first-ever qualification for the [second round of] FIFA World Cup Qualifiers will forever be etched in memory.\u201d
\nThat remarkable triumph was the national team\u2019s first-ever win in a World Cup qualifying match, coming after a goalless draw in the first leg in Phnom Penh, and cemented Constantine\u2019s place in the annals of Pakistan football after the 60-year-old had taken charge barely weeks before the opening game.
\nPakistan lost all six games in the second round of World Cup qualifying, playing against some of Asia\u2019s heavyweights including Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Jordan; oppositions the national team had rarely met in the past after crashing out in the first round at every previous attempt.
\nBut with the qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup merged together, the first-round win over Cambodia ensured Pakistan would get a place in the third round of Asian Cup qualifying where the bottom two teams in each of the nine second round groups drop to.
\nDuring his tenure, Constantine had repeatedly voiced his frustration at the inability of the PFF NC to get a national league going, which would allow players to play regularly. He also expressed his displeasure at planned training camps not going through from time to time.
\nHowever, upon his exit, he thanked everyone involved with the national team during his tenure.
\n\u201cTo my staff every individual on and off the pitch you were phenomenal,\u201d he added. \u201cFew will ever truly understand the level of commitment and sacrifice you poured into this journey. Your dedication was invaluable to our mission, and it was an honor to lead alongside you. Thank you for everything you did for me, the team, and the country.
\n\u201cTo the people of Pakistan, the fans, and everyone who cares deeply about football it has been a privilege to lead the Shaheens over the past year. Your support from beginning to end has meant everything to us, and I am grateful to each of you.
\n\u201cTo the players, you achieved something unparalleled for Pakistan football, and you did it with heart and style. You made history, and you reignited hope for 250 million people who believe in Pakistan football once more.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
KARACHI Pakistan football\u2019s future and its recent past would\u2019ve been so different had Stephen Constantine not taken up the job as the national team coach. In an almost year-long stint, the Englishman helped take Pakistan to the promised land; the second round of World Cup qualifying for the first time in its history. Masterminding that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":441311,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-441280","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n