KARACHI – The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced a major shake-up in its coaching setup by appointing Nolberto Solano as head coach and Jorge Castañeira as assistant coach for both the senior and under-23 national teams.
The decision was approved by a vote in the PFF Executive Committee—7 out of 13 members supported the move, while 6 voted against it.
Solano, a 48-year-old former international from Peru, comes with deep experience both as a player and coach. He holds a FIFA CONMEBOL Pro License and has been part of Peru’s coaching staff during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the 2022 qualifiers. Under his co-leadership, Peru also secured 4th place in the 2021 Copa America.
As a player, Solano earned 95 caps and scored 20 goals for his country. He played for big-name clubs like Newcastle United, Aston Villa, and Boca Juniors.
His assistant, Jorge Castañeira, is an Argentine fitness coach with decades of experience in football conditioning. He has worked with Venezuela’s national team, helped teams in South America and the Middle East, and even led Ras Al Khaimah Club to the UAE First Division Cup in 2010.
Castañeira is also an author of three books on football training, focusing on speed, tactical sharpness, and anaerobic performance.
Both coaches have signed on for one year, with an immediate goal of improving team performance and building a solid youth pipeline. Their first challenge will be prepping the under-23 side for the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, using modern training methods to boost Pakistan’s level of play.
A PFF insider confirmed to Geo News that both coaches have accepted the offer, and formal contracts will be signed within the week.
