Tsutomu Ogura, orchestrator of Singapore's win against Bangladesh, resigns

Singapore's national football head coach, Tsutomu Ogura, has stepped down from his role due to personal reasons, just 17 months into his two-year contract. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) announced that Ogura needed to return to Japan to attend to pressing matters and that attempts to retain him were unsuccessful.

Ogura, who took charge in February 2024, guided the Lions to the semi-finals of the ASEAN Championship and oversaw recent victories in Asian Cup qualifiers. In the wake of his departure, former Tampines Rovers head coach Gavin Lee has been appointed interim head coach while the FAS continues its search for a permanent successor. Ogura's exit comes at a crucial juncture in the national team's rebuilding efforts.

The 58-year-old, previously an assistant coach with the Japan national team, was the third successive Japanese manager to lead the Lions. He followed Takayuki Nishigaya, appointed in 2022 and dismissed in January 2024, and Tatsuma Yoshida, who held the post from 2019 until his resignation in 2021.

Ogura's final matches in charge saw the Lions achieve back-to-back wins: a 3–1 home victory against the Maldives in a friendly on 5 June, and a 2–1 away win over Bangladesh in an Asian Cup qualifier five days later.

That result placed Singapore at the top of Group C on goals scored, ahead of Hong Kong (four points), Bangladesh, and India (both with one point). Only the group winners will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.

Singapore, who are set to face India in back-to-back fixtures in October, have never qualified for the Asian Cup on merit—their only appearance came as hosts in 1984.