The Pakistan Football Federation has appointed Adeel Rizki as its new Technical Director. The appointment takes effect from July 1, 2026. Rizki previously served as head coach of the Pakistan Women’s National Team. He also worked as assistant to Nolberto Solano during the Pakistan Men’s National Team’s title win at the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives.
This is a major development for football governance in Pakistan. The Technical Director role has been vacant for several years. Rizki now steps into a position that will shape coaching, youth development, and long-term football strategy across the country.
Background of the Appointment
Rizki holds a UEFA A-License and becomes the first Technical Director of the PFF since 2021. His appointment comes at a time when the Pakistan Football Federation is trying to rebuild its structure after years of internal disputes and FIFA suspensions. Footballpakistan
The PFF has faced repeated instability in recent years. FIFA suspended the federation in 2021 due to third-party interference. That suspension was lifted in mid-2022, allowing football activities to resume. The federation was suspended again in early 2025 over constitutional issues, though this was resolved within weeks.
Rizki is well known within Pakistani football circles. He was appointed as head coach of the Pakistan Women’s National Team in 2022, after FIFA lifted PFF’s suspension and the team returned to international competition following an eight-year gap. He led the team through several tournaments in the years that followed, including matches against India, Bangladesh, and Maldives in regional competitions.
Rizki has also worked in Canada, where he has held coaching and directorship roles, including with Karachi City Football Club and youth soccer clubs in Toronto. His background combines grassroots coaching experience with international-level exposure.
Full Details of the New Role
As Technical Director, Rizki will oversee a wide range of responsibilities. He will be in charge of defining and leading the national technical development programmes, and developing long-term strategies for all aspects of the game, from grassroots to women’s football and coach education to youth football.
He is expected to bring these different programme areas together into a single development pyramid. This means coordinating grassroots football, youth academies, coach education, and women’s football under one clear strategy.
Rizki will also advise the PFF Executive Committee on coaching and technical development matters. This advisory role gives him direct influence over decisions affecting national team performance and player pathways.
As part of the transition, Rizki will step away from his position as a PFF Congress Member once he formally takes charge as Technical Director. This step is meant to avoid any overlap between his governance role and his new technical responsibilities.
Statements From Officials
PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani welcomed the appointment. He said technical development is one of the most important areas for a football federation, and that the Technical Director plays a major role in shaping the country’s development programme. He added that Rizki’s appointment allows the federation to move into its next phase of growth.
Rizki also spoke after accepting the role. He expressed gratitude to President Mohsen Gilani for the trust placed in him at what he called an important moment for football in Pakistan. He reflected on his time coaching the women’s team since 2022, describing it as a meaningful journey.
Rizki outlined his priorities going forward, saying his focus will be on establishing a clear technical vision across all levels of the game, strengthening coach education, creating player development pathways, and building structures for long-term success.
He also stressed that progress in Pakistani football will require cooperation. He said progress requires alignment, collaboration, and a shared commitment across the football community, and that he looks forward to working with federation leadership, clubs, academies, coaches, and regional stakeholders.
Impact on Pakistani Football
This appointment could have a meaningful impact on football development in Pakistan. A stable Technical Director role has been missing for years. Many coaches and clubs have called for clearer development pathways at the grassroots level.
Rizki’s dual experience in women’s football and international coaching gives him a broad perspective. His time with the Pakistan Women’s National Team included the country’s return to international competition after years away from FIFA-sanctioned events.
The appointment also comes shortly after Pakistan’s men’s team won the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives. That success has created renewed optimism around the sport in the country. A clear technical structure could help sustain that momentum at both junior and senior levels.
Regional football associations are also watching this development closely. Provincial bodies, including the Punjab Football Association, have been working on their own governance and affiliation matters in recent months, and a stronger national technical framework could support their efforts as well.
Conclusion and What Comes Next
Adeel Rizki’s appointment as PFF Technical Director marks a new chapter for football governance in Pakistan. His task now is to translate experience gained in women’s football and international coaching into a nationwide development strategy.
Football followers in Pakistan will be watching closely to see how quickly new coaching structures and youth programmes take shape under his leadership. The coming months are likely to bring further announcements from the PFF regarding coaching appointments, youth academy plans, and national team preparations.
FAQs
Who is Adeel Rizki and why is he in the news?
Adeel Rizki is a Pakistani football coach who has been appointed as the new Technical Director of the Pakistan Football Federation, effective July 1, 2026. He previously served as head coach of the Pakistan Women’s National Team and was part of the coaching staff during the Pakistan Men’s National Team’s tournament win in the Maldives.
What will Adeel Rizki’s responsibilities be as PFF Technical Director?
As Technical Director, Rizki will lead national technical development programmes, oversee coach education, build player development pathways, and coordinate grassroots, youth, and women’s football under a single long-term strategy. He will also advise the PFF Executive Committee on coaching matters.
When was the last time PFF had a Technical Director before this appointment?
According to the Pakistan Football Federation, Rizki becomes the first Technical Director appointed since 2021, meaning the role had remained vacant for several years before his appointment.
