Keisuke Honda, one of the greatest Japanese players in the last decade, recently announced he was moving to Australia to play in the A-League with reigning champions Melbourne Victory.
But, despite signing for a new club, Honda was not done there. He has now just been announced as the General Manager of the Cambodian National Team. The 166th-ranked side now boasts a 2013 Asian Golden Ball winner sitting on its bench during matches.
What an interesting, if not bizarre, few days it has been for Keisuke Honda.
August 6: Signs for Melbourne Victory on a one-year dealAugust 12: Appointed manager of Cambodia pic.twitter.com/Xn2XhTzXl4
— Mohamed Moallim (@iammoallim) August 12, 2018
What does Honda’s new role as General Manager consist of? Well, it seems that he will be sitting on the bench and basically telling the current Cambodia manager, Félix González, what to do. Honda will not be getting paid for his role with the team but will be compensated for his travel expenses.
10. Honda's title will officially be 'Head of Delegation' which would allow him to sit on the bench and give Gonzalez instructions in... his not-fantastic English... or maybe Spanish... which would then need to be translated into Khmer?
Are you still with me folks? pic.twitter.com/Uq9UIlM9h2— Dan Orlowitz (@aishiterutokyo) August 12, 2018
According to a Japanese-based football writer, Dan Orlowitz, Honda “approached the Football Federation of Cambodia and asked if it was possible to be the national team manager while continuing his playing career.” Honda doesn’t even have his coaching licence yet, but somehow he's managed to find his way into this position. It’s all a little bit odd, isn’t it?
Honda also wants to promote Cambodia globally, but I’m not too sure how he plans on doing that with a team like that. However, he does have somewhat of a history with football in Cambodia. Honda opened up an academy in Phnom Penh back in 2016.
I’m in Cambodia. Cambodia is one of a great country in Asia. I will visit local places. pic.twitter.com/ZR8FILyjxn
— KeisukeHonda(本田圭佑) (@kskgroup2017) August 12, 2018
Melbourne Victory were made aware of Honda’s negotiations with the Football Federation of Cambodia during the Australian club’s pursuit of signing him, so it just adds to the truly bizarre nature of this appointment.