Ivan Venkov Kolev (Bulgarian; 2004 2005)

During Kolevs term, the national football team participated in the 2004 AFF Champ
ionship. In the group stage of the championship, Myanmar beat the Philippines 10, beat Malaysia 1-0 and beat Timor 3-1. Its game against Thailand ended in a on
e-all draw.
The Myanmar team faced Singapore in the semi-final. The semi-final played over t
wo legs on a homeand-away format. On the first-leg, Myanmar used the KLFA Stadiu
m in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as its home ground because it could not host the ga
me in Myanmar. On the first leg, Singapore beat Myanmar 4-3. On the second-leg p
layed in Singapore, more than 15,000 Myanmar soccer fans packed the stadium to w
atch the match. On the second-leg, Myanmar players Yan Paing, Zaw Lin Tun and Mo
e Kyaw Thu were sent off, and Singapore beat Myanmar 4-2. In the game, some ruli
ngs by a Japanese referee were controversial and a violent brawl erupted between
soccer fans.
Later, Ivan Kolev worked as head coach of Yangon United FC. He is currently head
coach of Slavia Sofia in Bulgaria.
Photo: Goal.comMarcos Falopa (Brazilian, 2007-2008)
Falopa arrived in Myanmar for a youth project. He was head coach of the Myanmar
U-23 team that contested the 2007 SEA Games.
In that competition, Myanmar beat Thailand 2-3 in the group stage. It got a goal
less draw against Indonesia, and it beat Cambodia 6-2. In the semi-final, Myanma
r won a penalty shoot-out against Vietnam. In the final, it lost to Thailand 2-0
, winning the silver medal.
If we say that 1993 was Myanmar footballs silver-era, we must say that Falopas U-23
team was a second silver-era.
Later, Falopa managed youth team in Italy, Brazil and India.