Is Haiti international football’s real impossible job?

When Graham Taylor was England manager, a documentary team referred to his role as an “impossible job”. Sebastien Migne smiles wryly when asked if he has the position he really deserves that title.

Migne is Haiti’s new coach, tasked with guiding them to their first men’s World Cup in half a century.

It is a challenge made all the more difficult by the political and social chaos plaguing the Caribbean island, meaning it is unlikely Migne will be able to set foot there in the foreseeable future.

The gangs now control most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and prevented Prime Minister Ariel Henry from returning to the country after a trip abroad, prompting his resignation. bbc news They report that some parts of the country have become effectively lawless.

Haiti has been ravaged by gang violence for years, but violence perpetrated by armed groups intensified in late February.

While the gangs said their main goal was to overthrow Henry, the violence continues. They have attacked police, looted universities and libraries, burned pharmacies and forced the closure of Port-au-Prince’s largest hospital.

So why did Migne decide to manage his national football team?

“Honestly, I’m very excited,” the 51-year-old Frenchman tells BBC Sport. “It’s not the best contract of my life, but it’s important right now.

“The project is interesting, Haiti has a good past in football. The idea is to write a new story with the players, and we have a fantastic opportunity because the United States, Canada and Mexico have already qualified (as joint hosts).

“They know exactly what we want to create: qualify for the World Cup.”

The three North American nations will co-host the 2026 World Cup, which will be the first to feature 48 teams. In addition to the hosts, three other teams from the Concacaf region will qualify and two others will compete in the inter-confederation playoffs for more places.

This opens the door for Haiti to reach its first men’s World Cup since 1974, when it reached the final in West Germany. They lost all three group stage matches and conceded 14 goals to Argentina, Italy and Poland.

‘Some friends told me, you’re completely crazy’

Their long road to the final begins in the first of two Concacaf qualifying group stages, with an opening match against Saint Lucia on June 6.

Haiti was supposed to be a home game, but that is currently out of the question. The match against Saint Lucia will be played in Barbados and Migne is not sure what will come next: where they will play or who will play for them.

“It’s difficult, because it’s impossible for me to go to Haiti to discover new talents and have full confidence in the local coaches to give me all the information,” he says.

“For example, I tried to convince a player to come with us for the next matches. We needed administrative procedures, but all the embassies in the country are closed.”

Migne is used to an element of chaos and coaching duties in Syria are on his CV. A veteran of management in Africa, his previous stints with national teams include Congo, Kenya and Equatorial Guinea.

But he has tasted World Cup glory before, as assistant manager of Cameroon at Qatar 2022.

Although Cameroon did not leave the group stage, They surprised Brazil 1-0 in his last match, a result that has lit the fire in him to return to the greatest show on Earth.

“Of course, some friends told me, ‘You’re completely crazy,'” he says. “Maybe it’s true, but I believe in the project. I think we can create a big surprise. We have quality.”

Klopp’s fan on the Haiti bench

Since his appointment on March 10, Migne has worked hard to make the best of a hard job. Haiti drew 1-1 against French Guiana in his first game in charge, and has since assigned his coaches and scouts to scour the world in search of talent.

One of the key functions of the coach of a small national team is to convince players eligible by family and heritage to represent those nations. Migne has approached Wolves striker Jeanricner Bellegarde, who was born in France but of Haitian descent, and Hull City winger Jaden Philogene, about possible call-ups.

“Step by step we try to establish contact with them to present the project and convince them,” says Migne. “It is a long process.”

Migne has a particular interest in convincing English players, as he is a lover of English football. He spoke to BBC Sport wearing a Liverpool shirt and spoke of his admiration for Jurgen Klopp.

“After taking Haiti to the World Cup, then I want to coach in the Premier League or the Championship, I would love to,” he says.

But before that, Migne has to try and somehow guide war-deprived Haiti to the World Cup.

So is your job really impossible?

“It’s not (impossible). It’s interesting.”