Gavin Lee will become the permanent head coach of the Singapore national football team.
The 35-year-old is the first local to hold the position since 2016.
Lee has accepted the full-time role and will sign an 18-month contract on 27 Nov 2025.
Sport Singapore and the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) will support him in his preparations.
An official announcement will follow the signing.
From Interim to Permanent
Lee took over as interim head coach in June 2025 after Tsutomu Ogura left for personal reasons.
The Nanyang Technological University graduate joined the national team in March 2024 as part of Ogura’s backroom staff before becoming his assistant.
On 18 Nov 2025, Lee guided the Lions to a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong in a winner-takes-all Asian Cup qualifier.
The win qualified Singapore for the Asian Cup on merit for the first time.
Singapore’s only previous appearance came in 1984 when they participated as hosts.
The qualification sparked calls for Lee to be appointed permanent head coach.
Earlier rumours suggested FAS was courting foreign talent.
Youngest SPL Coach to National Team Boss
Lee previously coached BG Tampines Rovers.
At 28, he became the youngest head coach in Singapore Premier League history.
Lee credited Ogura with building a strong foundation. “He’s formulated a good working group, he’s instilled a style of football that’s not too different from my own. And so it’s just working off it and making sure we do a little bit better,” he said.
Before and after the historic win, Lee stayed modest about taking the full-time role. “The organisation will make a decision that’s best for the team and the country. The national team is bigger than any individual,” he said in a post-match press conference.
Lee will lead the Lions to the 2026 Asean Championship and the 2027 Asian Cup.
