Lion City Sailors have parted ways with head coach Jesus Casas, the Singapore Premier League champions said on Tuesday (Sep 1), five days before the Community Shield curtain-raiser.
In a club statement published on lioncitysailorsfc.sg, the Sailors said assistant coach Varo Moreno will take charge of the first team in the interim until further notice. The club gave no further reason for the change.
Mr Casas, a 52-year-old Spaniard, was appointed in February 2026 on a deal running through the 2027/28 season, according to the club’s earlier appointment announcement. He joined after leading Iraq at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and to the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup title.
INTERIM SETUP
The club statement was brief. “The Lion City Sailors have parted ways with Head Coach Jesus Casas,” it said. “In the interim, Assistant Coach Varo Moreno will take charge of the Sailors’ first team until further notice.”
Under Mr Casas, the Sailors sealed back-to-back SPL titles on Sunday (May 3) with a 0-0 draw against Tampines Rovers at Our Tampines Hub, the club reported at the time.
FIXTURES AHEAD
The Sailors face Tampines Rovers in the Community Shield at Jalan Besar Stadium on Sunday (Sep 6) at 7.30pm, according to the club’s fixtures list. The match opens the 2026/27 domestic season.
Their Singapore Premier League title defence begins away to Hougang United at Bishan Stadium on Saturday (Sep 12) at 7.30pm. The Football Association of Singapore released the 2026/27 SPL fixtures earlier, and the Sailors’ site lists the same dates and venues.
The Asean Football Federation also reported the parting on Sep 1, citing the same club wording and noting that no official reason was given beyond the interim appointment of Mr Moreno.
