Bahrain's new national football team coach Felix Sanchez Bas has vowed to give every player an opportunity to earn international selection as he begins preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

The Spaniard, who guided Qatar to the continental title in 2019, was officially unveiled at Bahrain National Stadium on November 1 after agreeing a four-year contract.

The press conference was attended by Bahrain Football Association (BFA) chairman Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, national team general supervisor Shaikh Ahmed bin Isa Al Khalifa, General Sports Authority (GSA) CEO Dr. Abdulrahman Sadiq Askar and Bahrain's all-time leading goalscorer Ismaeel Abdullatif.

Selection Policy

Asked by The Daily Tribune (TDT) whether supporters could expect fresh faces following criticism of the previous management's reliance on familiar players, Sanchez said: "For us, we start from zero."

"We're going to focus on our ideas and, of course, select the players thinking about performance, about the upcoming tournaments, players that can be ready to help the team."

Sanchez, who succeeds Croatian Dragan Talajic, nevertheless cautioned against expecting wholesale changes.

"We need to think about the future, and it's normal in football that there has to be a gradual renovation," he explained.

Having watched several domestic league matches, the new coach expects his first training camp to provide a clearer understanding of the players available.

Bahrain's Upcoming Fixtures

That assessment begins on November 2, with Bahrain opening a domestic camp running until November 5.

The preliminary 29-man squad includes goalkeepers Ebrahim Lutfalla, Omar Salem, Abdullah Ahmed and Godwill Chia, alongside experienced internationals Hashim Al Sayed Isa, Ebrahim Al Khattal, Sayed Dhiya Saeed, Sayed Mehdi Baqer and Abdullah Al Hashash.

Among the other selections are younger players Ali Al Doseri, Mohammed Al Jazzaf and Jassim Binjumai, with the latter two having impressed at the recent U17 Gulf Cup in Qatar.

Bahrain then travel to Guangzhou during the FIFA international window, facing Yemen on November 14 and hosts China three days later at Tianhe Sports Centre Stadium.

The fixtures will serve as preparation for the Asian Cup, where Bahrain open Group B against North Korea on January 8, followed by Jordan on January 13 and Uzbekistan on January 17.

Coaching Background

Sanchez's coaching roots lie in Barcelona's La Masia and Qatar's Aspire Academy, although his senior teams have generally favoured a pragmatic, adaptable approach built on defensive organisation and quick counterattacks, often using a 3-5-2 formation.

His career has also included leading Qatar at the 2022 World Cup, managing Ecuador and coaching Qatari club Al Sadd.

His appointment also renews a family connection with the kingdom, where his brother Fran worked in youth football development between 2012 and 2014.

Long-Term Vision

Shaikh Ali said the appointment followed a review of Bahrain's performances over the past decade and an assessment of potential candidates.

"Sanchez was selected following a thorough evaluation, and his appointment aligns with our vision and ambitions," the chairman said.

The four-year project also includes preparations for the next World Cup qualifying campaign.