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LAHORE: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has appointed former women’s national team head coach Adeel Rizki as its new Technical Director, filling a critical administrative vacancy that has sat empty since 2019, the governing body announced on Saturday.
Rizki will officially assume the role on July 1, 2026, under a mandate from PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani to reshape the country’s fractured football infrastructure. His portfolio will include overseeing grassroots initiatives, youth development, coach education, and women’s football pathways.
The appointment follows Rizki’s recent stint as assistant to head coach Nolberto Solano during the Pakistan men’s national team’s victory at the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives.
“Technical development is one of the most key areas for a football federation and the technical director plays a huge role in defining and leading the country’s development programme,” PFF President Gilani said in a statement.
“With Adeel’s appointment we can move to the next chapter of developing football in the country.”
However, Rizki’s meteoric ascent within the country’s football hierarchy has drawn sharp parallels among local sports analysts to the career trajectory of former left-arm Test pacer Wahab Riaz in cricket. Much like Eahab, who has been repeatedly obliged with high-profile administrative and selection roles by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in recent years despite widespread public and critical scrutiny, Rizki is viewed by critics as exceptionally fortunate to experience such a rapid rise in Pakistan football within a remarkably short period.
Since entering the national setup in 2022 as the head coach of the women’s national team, Rizki has swiftly accumulated significant administrative leverage. By 2024, he secured a seat as a PFF Congress member before dual-hatting into the men’s national coaching staff, culminating in his appointment to the federation’s highest technical office in less than four years.
Rizki, who holds a UEFA A-License, confirmed he will step away from his coaching duties and vacate his PFF Congress seat to focus entirely on his new role.
“Together we have an opportunity to build a modern, sustainable, and high-performing football ecosystem,” Rizki said in a statement.
“As Technical Director, my focus will be on establishing a clear technical vision across all levels of the game; strengthening coach education, creating player development pathways, enhancing football methodology, and building structures that deliver long-term success for Pakistan.
“The PFF has long been plagued by factional infighting, governance issues, and international suspensions, leaving Pakistan’s football development decades behind its regional neighbors. Whether Rizki can translate his rapid bureaucratic success into tangible structural reform remains to be seen.
