Ashley Westwood’s position as manager is untenable after Hong Kong failed to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. He must do the honourable thing and resign — or he must be sacked.
It’s hard to believe that only 22 months ago, Hong Kong fans were singing and dancing on the steps of the Souq Waqif in Doha. Their team were heavy underdogs, but the fans were simply happy to witness a qualification more than half a century in the making.
They marvelled at the futuristic stadiums of Qatar, built for the 2022 World Cup, all the while knowing that back home, a modern stadium of their own was rising.
Those memories of the 2023 Asian Cup feel light years away after Hong Kong’s 2–1 defeat to Singapore, which ended their 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign. There will be no singing and dancing this time. Only much to ponder — especially since the next round of World Cup qualifying is not expected to begin until late 2027.
In spite of the setback, one man refuses to acknowledge failure. Unfortunately, that man is head coach Ashley Westwood, who, as of publication time, has yet to tender his resignation as Hong Kong manager.
After Tuesday’s match, he insisted that the elimination was “not a failure, but a disappointment.” Westwood added: “We’re frustrated because we couldn’t deliver the fairy-tale ending our fans most wanted. No one wanted to advance more than me, the staff, and the players, but football is about not controlling everything.
“You can only do your best and prepare as much as possible. We never apologise for giving our best, never apologise for progressing and improving.”
Half of that statement is true. Hong Kong were missing a bit of luck, and had they scored another goal in the first half, they might have been able to see out the victory. But it is important to look at the full body of Westwood’s tenure when evaluating whether the team have been “progressing and improving.”
Westwood often points to Hong Kong’s 159th place FIFA ranking at the time of his hire and the climb to 147th place entering Tuesday’s match. He cites his 50% winning percentage and a ten-match unbeaten run.
However, after Tuesday’s loss, Hong Kong have slipped back to 153rd — nearly identical to where they started. And of his ten victories, only two came against teams ranked above Hong Kong.
Hong Kong fans must face a near-two year wait for the next set of competitive fixtures. (Credit: Santiago Kwok)
After previous manager Jörn Andersen stepped down in June 2024 to return to club football, many observers agreed that Hong Kong needed a tactical refresh. Andersen’s aggressive pressing system required fitness levels the squad couldn’t consistently maintain, prompting calls for a less demanding approach.
Few expected Westwood to introduce a possession-based system built around the use of a libero — a centre-back who steps into midfield in possession to form a double pivot and create central overloads. Using a centre-back in this role theoretically allows an extra striker up top.
But from the moment Westwood unveiled the libero in his first match against Liechtenstein, the tactic was controversial. The role requires a rare skill set: the vision, passing, and retention of a midfielder, combined with the agility, size, and anticipation of a central defender.
It also had tactical costs. When a centre-back pushed up, the remaining three defenders — including both full backs — were required to stay deep in possession. This was unpopular with supporters, who felt that the strength of the team came from wide areas.
They had a point. Shinichi Chan and Yue Tze-nam are two of the the best at full-backs in the Chinese Super League. The team’s starman, Everton Camargo, often cuts in from the right, opening space for overlapping full backs. The same was true on the left, whether Stefan Pereira or Raphaël Merkies played. Fans rightly wondered why Westwood had not chosen overload the flanks instead?
Throughout his tenure, Westwood has tried to shoehorn Fernando, Chan, Dudu, and Oliver Gerbig as liberos — none ideal fits. As criticism of his tactics grew, Westwood stubbornly doubled down. After the Liechtenstein defeat, he infamously lashed out, saying, “I know for a fact that if we play like that in and around Asia, we’ll win more than we lose. Our performance was good and if somebody didn’t think the performance was good, then I question what they know about football.”
Westwood’s libero system (Credit: @simplefootballanalysis on Threads)
“Knowing football” promptly became a meme among Hong Kong fans who couldn’t understand his dogmatic attachment to the system. And herein lies the difference between Westwood and his predecessor.
Fans want to believe the manager sees their job as more than just another gig on their CV. They want to believe that they care as deeply as the fans do. In Hong Kong — where the representative team dwarfs local clubs in popularity — that bond is especially important.
The position of Hong Kong manager requires one to be part-politician and part-steward. Like a politician, he must satisfy several constituencies – the players, the board of the HKFA, the government, and the fans.
But, he must never forget that the team does not belong to him – it belongs to the people. The manager is merely the head steward of a team which represents the hopes and aspirations of the Hong Kong people.
Andersen understood this. Affectionately nicknamed “PR Sir,” he made a point of engaging with supporters and building goodwill. That bought him patience when results didn’t go Hong Kong’s way because fans could see that he was on their side.
Under Jörn Andersen, fans felt that their support was valued, which bought him time when results didn’t go Hong Kong’s way. (Credit: HKFA)
Westwood, in contrast, has been condescending and patronizing to supporters. “I think their opinion is wrong and invalid. If you call yourself a supporter, get behind the team and manager,” he snarled, after the 0-0 draw against Nepal in June. “Every window we improve, and climb the rankings… Every metric has improved. Possession, shots, crosses, corners, goals, clean sheets…every stat is up.
“We must be Brazil. It’s amazing. If people [don’t believe the team is improving], they shouldn’t be coming.”
Fans were willing to tolerate his tactics and the sluggish performances so long as they produced wins. Early victories over Cambodia, Mauritius, and the Philippines saw Westwood gleefully grabbing a megaphone to lead “Westwood in!” chants. But when his libero system was exposed in Singapore, or when his team failed to break down Nepal, he offered no accountability.
If Westwood believes there is no need to apologize for “progressing and improving,” then there is no reason for him to congratulate himself either. It’s hard to point to any victory that can be credited to his system. Yes, Hong Kong have enjoyed more possession — but their opponents have also been weaker on average.
Fans don’t need an apology from him. They want humility — something he has failed to show throughout his 15 months in charge. It is questionable whether he has ever respected his position as Hong Kong’s head coach.
If each match is a vote of confidence in the head coach, then the Singapore match on Tuesday was a referendum — one he lost. And when you lose a referendum, you resign.
Disappointment was evident on Camargo’s face in what could be his final competitive appearance for Hong Kong. (Credit: Santiago Kwok)
Westwood has also argued that Hong Kong’s qualification for the 2023 Asian Cup was an overachievement, and that failing to qualify this time around was “normal.” If elimination is “normal,” then by his own logic, Hong Kong have not “progressed,” and it’s more reason for him to step aside.
His results — including his 50% win rate — were achieved thanks in large part to a core of aging players he couldn’t replace, including Camargo, Fernando, Juninho, and Pereira. None may be around for the next cycle.
Others who have been long-time stalwarts, such as Wang Zhenpeng, Philip Chan and Wong Wai, could also be gone by then too.
Perhaps it’s unfair to blame Westwood for relying on older players; national team managers worldwide often prioritize short-term results. If so, then the HKFA board must part ways with him for the long-term good of Hong Kong football. The organization have stated that one of its goals is qualifying for the 2034 World Cup. If they’re serious, then they cannot retain a manager who failed to make Hong Kong a regular participant in the Asian Cup.
Westwood was handed the keys to the castle: a favourable draw and a squad capable of qualification. Instead of caring for the castle, he treated the gardens as his personal playground for self-aggrandizement — scheduling weak opponents to pad his CV, alienating supporters, and imposing a style that didn’t suit his players.
He didn’t care whether his libero system was right. He was obsessed with never admitting he was wrong.
As brilliant as Camargo, Fernando, Juninho, and Pereira have been for Hong Kong, the sun has begun to set on their time with the representative team. The next generation needs a manager who will build around them — and that person cannot be Westwood, whose contract mercifully expires in August 2026.
For months, many believed Westwood’s job was safe because the government would never approve the cost of terminating him while also funding his replacement. But with no competitive matches on the horizon, no immediate coaching search is necessary. An interim manager can be found to take care of the team – something Westwood failed to do.
In the meantime, Hong Kong’s next step is simple: liberate themselves from Ashley Westwood.
