Harry Kewell and Hernan Crespo, both former football stars, will now meet again as coaches in the Asian Champions League final. This matchup brings back memories of their encounter in the famous 2005 UEFA Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan.
Kewell, now coaching Yokohama F.Marinos, will lead his team against Al-Ain from the United Arab Emirates. In the 2005 final, Kewell’s Liverpool staged a remarkable comeback to win the title, while Crespo’s AC Milan suffered a defeat despite his two goals.
While Al-Ain has a history of success in continental competitions, Yokohama is in uncharted territory, having never reached this stage of the Asian Champions League before. Under Kewell’s guidance, Yokohama has shown resilience, including a comeback win in the semifinals against Ulsan HD.
In the first leg of the final, Yokohama will host Al-Ain, with the second leg scheduled for May 25. Kewell, drawing inspiration from Liverpool’s historic comeback, aims to guide Yokohama to victory in this prestigious tournament.