Friday 23 Oct 2026
Former New Zealand national football team player and coach – Ricki Herbert has been fired as head coach of Maldives national football team.
President of Football Association of Maldives, Ahmed Toriq (Tom) said that Herbert – who was appointed head coach in a two-year contract in September, 2015 – was terminated from his post after discussions between him and FAM Executive Committee.
Herbert has been riddled with criticism after failing to live up to the expectations of supporters and football analysists during the 8-months he has been in charge.
Many of the coaching staff left the team after disagreements between them and Herbert, while Herbert kept saying that he had not had enough time to prepare the team, and that he was facing numerous challenges as FAM elections dragged on.
Herbert was unable to live up to lead the team to glory in World Cup Qualifying or SAFF Suzuki Cup – a tournament highly anticipated by Maldivian football fans.
Fans called for blood after the young national football squad came back home in defeat during Asian Games, and after defeat in hands of Yemen in Asian Cup play-off against the team.
The national football squad left for the second-leg match with Yemen on Sunday morning with assistant coach, Ahmed Mahfooz (Imma).
