Returning to the Maldives, Urbányi Focuses on Developing the Next Generation
Hungarian coach István Urbányi returned to guide the Maldives national football team as head coach and Technical Director in January 2026. He is focusing on youth development with the U20 squad ahead of the SAFF U-20 Championship. Urbányi emphasizes tactical structure, quicker decision-making, and confidence. The team recently played friendlies in Malé and beat Singapore 4-3 away. He believes young players lack regular competitive matches and that exposure abroad accelerates their growth.