1. Overview
Myo Hlaing Win (မျိုးလှိုင်ဝင်းMyo Hlaing WinBurmese, born 24 May 1973) is a prominent Burmese football coach and former professional player who primarily played as a forward or centre-forward. Recognized as a prolific goalscorer during his playing career, he notably secured the Golden Boot at the 1998 AFF Championship. After retiring as a player, Myo Hlaing Win transitioned into coaching, managing several clubs in Myanmar, including Nay Pyi Taw FC, Ayeyawady United FC, and Shan United FC. He currently holds the esteemed position of head coach for both the Myanmar national football team and the Myanmar U22 team. This article details his journey through football, encompassing his distinguished playing career, significant achievements, and his impactful contributions as a coach to Myanmar football.
2. Player Career
Myo Hlaing Win's playing career was marked by his prolific goalscoring ability and a unique playing style that combined individualistic attacking prowess with strong playmaking skills.
2.1. Early Life and Playing Debut
Born on 24 May 1973, Myo Hlaing Win began his international career at a young age. He earned his first cap for the Myanmar national football team on 22 August 1989, at the age of 16 years and 91 days, in a match against Thailand which resulted in a 0-3 defeat. His last appearance for the national team came on 15 January 2005, at 31 years and 236 days old, in a 1-2 loss to Malaysia.
2.2. Playing Style
As a forward, Myo Hlaing Win was renowned for his remarkable goalscoring capabilities, frequently finding the back of the net. While often described as an individualistic attacker on the field, his vision, passing ability, and accurate crossing made him highly capable of providing crucial assists for his teammates. He was characterized as an extremely powerful, fast, and technical player, possessing a composed finishing touch that allowed him to convert scoring opportunities effectively.
2.3. Club Career
Throughout his club career, Myo Hlaing Win played for Finance and Revenue F.C.. During his tenure with the club, he contributed significantly to their domestic dominance, securing numerous league championship titles. Details of these club-level achievements are provided in the Honours section below.
2.4. International Career
Myo Hlaing Win had a long and impactful career with the Myanmar national football team, becoming one of their most prominent players and a record goalscorer.
2.4.1. International Debut and Last Cap
Myo Hlaing Win made his international debut for Myanmar on 22 August 1989, against Thailand, at the age of 16 years and 91 days. His final international appearance was on 15 January 2005, when he was 31 years and 236 days old, in a match against Malaysia.
2.4.2. International Appearances and Goals Statistics
Myo Hlaing Win accumulated 69 international appearances and scored 36 goals for the Myanmar national team over his career.
| Myanmar national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 10 | 8 |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 |
| 1995 | 9 | 2 |
| 1996 | 10 | 7 |
| 1997 | 5 | 5 |
| 1998 | 5 | 6 |
| 1999 | 4 | 3 |
| 2000 | 10 | 4 |
| 2004 | 5 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 69 | 36 |
His appearances and goals were distributed across various competitions as follows:
| Competition | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| SEA Games | 20 | 15 |
| Friendlies | 7 | 3 |
| Tiger Cup | 19 | 9 |
| AFC Asian Cup qualification | 9 | 8 |
| Asian Games | 3 | 0 |
| Other Tournaments | 5 | 1 |
| Total | 63 | 36 |
2.4.3. List of International Goals
Below is a detailed list of Myo Hlaing Win's international goals for the Myanmar national team, with Myanmar's goal tally listed first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 April 1993 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Macau | 7-1 | 7-1 | Friendly |
| 2 | 20 April 1993 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Macau | 3-2 | 3-2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 9 June 1993 | National Stadium, Singapore | Laos | 3-0 | 7-1 | 1993 Southeast Asian Games |
| 4 | 5-0 | |||||
| 5 | 7-0 | |||||
| 6 | 13 June 1993 | Malaysia | 1-0 | 2-1 | ||
| 7 | 15 June 1993 | Brunei | 4-0 | 6-0 | ||
| 8 | 6-0 | |||||
| 9 | 26 October 1995 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Bangladesh | 4-0 | 4-0 | Myanmar Cup |
| 10 | 14 December 1995 | 700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai, Thailand | Vietnam | 1-1 | 1-2 | 1995 Southeast Asian Games |
| 11 | 1 July 1996 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Maldives | 2-0 | 3-1 | 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 12 | 4 July 1996 | National Stadium, Singapore | Singapore | 1-2 | 2-2 | |
| 13 | 9 July 1996 | Maldives | 1-0 | 4-1 | ||
| 14 | 3-1 | |||||
| 15 | 4-1 | |||||
| 16 | 5 September 1996 | Jurong Stadium, Jurong, Singapore | Cambodia | 4-0 | 5-0 | 1996 AFF Championship |
| 17 | 11 September 1996 | Laos | 4-2 | 4-2 | ||
| 18 | 7 October 1997 | Lebak Bulus Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia | Singapore | 2-2 | 2-2 | 1997 Southeast Asian Games |
| 19 | ||||||
| 20 | 9 October 1997 | Brunei | 6-1 | 6-1 | ||
| 21 | ||||||
| 22 | ||||||
| 23 | 13 March 1998 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Brunei | 4-1 | 4-1 | 1998 AFF Championship qualification |
| 24 | 18 March 1998 | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon, Myanmar | Laos | 3-0 | 3-0 | |
| 25 | 29 August 1998 | Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Indonesia | 1-0 | 2-6 | 1998 AFF Championship |
| 26 | 2-6 | |||||
| 27 | 31 August 1998 | Philippines | 2-1 | 5-2 | ||
| 28 | 5-2 | |||||
| 29 | 1 August 1999 | Berakas Sports Complex, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei | 1-1 | 4-1 | 1999 Southeast Asian Games | |
| 30 | 2-1 | |||||
| 31 | 4-1 | |||||
| 32 | 5 April 2000 | Dongdaemun Stadium, Seoul, South Korea | Mongolia | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 33 | 7 April 2000 | Laos | 1-0 | 4-0 | ||
| 34 | 4-0 | |||||
| 35 | 9 August 2000 | Perak Stadium, Ipoh, Malaysia | Malaysia | 2-1 | 2-1 | Friendly |
| 36 | 16 December 2004 | Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | East Timor | 3-1 | 3-1 | 2004 AFF Championship |
3. Managerial Career
Following a successful playing career, Myo Hlaing Win transitioned to football management, where he has coached several clubs in the Myanmar National League and currently leads the national team.
3.1. Nay Pyi Taw FC
Myo Hlaing Win began his managerial career with Nay Pyi Taw F.C. in January 2013. During the 2013 Myanmar National League season, he guided the team to a second-place finish, which earned them qualification for the 2014 AFC Cup. In the AFC Cup, Nay Pyi Taw FC finished as runners-up in their group, behind Kitchee, allowing them to advance to the round of 16. However, their campaign ended there with a 5-0 defeat to Vietnamese club Hà Nội T&T. Myo Hlaing Win also led Nay Pyi Taw FC to the final of the 2014 MFF Cup, where they were defeated 2-0 by Ayeyawady United. He departed the club at the end of the 2016 season.
3.2. Ayeyawady United FC
In February 2019, Myo Hlaing Win was appointed as the head coach of Ayeyawady United F.C.. In his inaugural season with the club, he successfully guided them to a second-place finish in the 2019 Myanmar National League.
3.3. Shan United FC
On 30 January 2024, Myo Hlaing Win took over as the new head coach of Myanmar champions Shan United F.C.. Under his leadership, the club successfully qualified for the 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship by defeating Bruneian club Kasuka 4-2 on aggregate in the qualifying play-offs.
3.4. Myanmar National Team
Myo Hlaing Win was appointed as the new head coach of the Myanmar national football team on 9 September 2024, following the dismissal of Michael Feichtenbeiner. This appointment marked a significant milestone, as he became the first Myanmar native to lead the national team since 2019. In addition to his role with the senior national team, he also serves as the head coach for the Myanmar U22 team, overseeing the development of young talents.
4. Honours
Myo Hlaing Win has accumulated numerous honours throughout his career, both as a distinguished player and a successful coach.
4.1. As Player
Myo Hlaing Win's playing career was marked by significant club and individual achievements.
4.1.1. Club Honours
He achieved considerable success with Finance and Revenue F.C., winning the Myanmar Premier League title nine times:
- 1996
- 1997
- 1999
- 2000
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
4.1.2. Individual Honours
Myo Hlaing Win earned individual recognition for his outstanding performance in regional competitions:
- AFF Championship Golden Boot: 1998
5. Legacy and Assessment
Myo Hlaing Win holds a significant place in Myanmar football history, both as a prolific goalscorer and an influential coach. As a player, his long international career and record for scoring 36 goals for the national team underscore his importance to Myanmar football during his era. His individualistic yet team-oriented playing style, characterized by power, speed, technique, and vision, made him a formidable presence on the field. His consistent performance helped Finance and Revenue F.C. dominate the Myanmar Premier League for over a decade, securing nine league titles.
Transitioning into coaching, Myo Hlaing Win demonstrated his leadership and tactical acumen by guiding various Myanmar clubs to competitive finishes and cup finals. His success in leading Nay Pyi Taw FC to the AFC Cup Round of 16 and Ayeyawady United FC to second place in the league solidified his reputation as a capable manager. His recent appointment as the head coach of the Myanmar national team and the U22 team, making him the first local coach in several years, highlights the trust placed in his ability to develop and lead Myanmar football into a new era. His career trajectory showcases a dedication to the sport that has had a lasting impact on its development in Myanmar.