Asrat Haile
{{Short description|Ethiopian football manager (1951/1952–2024)}}
{{Patronymic name|Asrat|Haile|his|father}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Asrat Haile
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Asrat Haile
| birth_date = 1951 or 1952
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{death date and given age|2024|10||72|df=y}}
| death_place = Ethiopia
| currentclub =
| manageryears1 = 2001
| managerclubs1 = Ethiopia
| manageryears2 = 05/2003 – 09/2003
| managerclubs2 = Ethiopia
| manageryears3 = 11/2004 – 12/2004
| managerclubs3 = Ethiopia
}}
Asrat Haile (1951 or 1952 – October 2024) was an Ethiopian football manager of the country's national team. He was frequently called upon by the Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) as a temporary caretaker of the national team, affectionately known as the Walya Antelopes. He managed the team during at least three different time periods in 2001, 2003 and 2004.{{cite news|title=Ethiopia need professionals|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3058169.stm|accessdate=14 January 2013|newspaper=BBC|date=11 July 2003}}
Career
Haile achieved regional success with the Ethiopia national team in the 2001 when he led his team to a win in the East and Central African Championship.{{cite web|title=2001 East and Central African Championship (CECAFA) |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/eastcentrafr.html |publisher=R.S.S.S.F |accessdate=14 January 2013 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119070420/http://rsssf.com/tablese/eastcentrafr.html |archivedate=19 January 2013 }} Because of their success in 2001 with Asrat Haile at the helm, Ethiopia jumped 17 spots in FIFA rankings to 138th.{{cite news |title=African countries leap up Fifa rankings |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/cup_of_nations/1764793.stm |newspaper=BBC |date=16 January 2002 |accessdate=17 April 2013}}{{cite web|title=Best/Worst Ranking|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtools/bestworstranking.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009000153/http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtools/bestworstranking.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2011|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=17 January 2013}} However, the EFF chose to look for a new manager and signed German coach Jochen Figge in August 2002.{{cite news|title=All change at the top|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/2207704.stm|accessdate=17 January 2013|newspaper=BBC |date=21 August 2002}} Asrat remained as assistant coach. He began to loss of popularity among the fans during this time as he was blamed for the team's failures in 2002 under coach Figge;{{cite news |title=Ethiopia without a coach | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4126495.stm|accessdate=14 January 2013|newspaper=BBC|date=26 December 2004}} especially for their abysmal performance at 2002 CECAFA Cup in which the Walya Antelopes lost all four games in Group B.{{cite news|title=2002 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/results_and_fixtures/2373541.stm|accessdate=17 January 2013|newspaper=BBC|date=13 December 2002|archive-date=10 June 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040610040318/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/results_and_fixtures/2373541.stm|url-status=dead}}
In May 2003, Asrat was nonetheless re-appointed to the position interim head coach after the dismissal of Figge for allegedly failing to provide the proper documents for the position.{{cite news|title=Ethiopia sacks Figge|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3016911.stm|accessdate=14 January 2013|newspaper=BBC|date=12 May 2003}} In his second short tenure as manager, Ethiopia failed to qualify to the 2004 African Cup of Nations, extending to 22 years their streak of no appearances at the continental tournament.
In September 2003, Asrat was replaced by Seyoum Kebede as new permanent head coach.{{cite news|title=Kebede gets Ethiopia job|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3140406.stm|accessdate=14 January 2013|newspaper=BBC|date=25 September 2003}} However, Seyoum's stay with the team was not much longer than Figge's.
In December 2004, Asrat was again appointed manager of the Walya Antelopes just two weeks before the 2004 CECAFA Cup. He led Ethiopia as they won the tournament for the second time under his stewardship and for the third time in Ethiopian football history.{{cite news|title=Ethiopia ready for Cecafa|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4086873.stm|accessdate=14 January 2013|newspaper=BBC|date=10 December 2004}}{{cite news|title=Ethiopia through to semis|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4109761.stm|accessdate=14 January 2013|newspaper=BBC|date=19 December 2004}}{{cite news|title=Ethiopia win Cecafa Cup|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4125931.stm|accessdate=14 January 2013|newspaper=BBC|date=26 December 2004}} However, he announced immediately after the tournament that he would be resigning as coach. He said: "I wouldn't accept any contract offer from the EFF to coach the national [team]."
Death
Haile died in October 2024, at the age of 72.{{cite news |title=Legendary Ethiopian Football Figure Asrat Haile (‘The Sword’) Passes Away |url=https://addisinsight.net/2024/10/legendary-ethiopian-football-figure-asrat-haile-the-sword-passes-away/ |access-date=28 October 2024 |publisher=Addis Insight |date=26 October 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ethiopia national football team managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Asrat Haile}}
Category:Year of birth uncertain