It is official.
Singapore has done the unthinkable and qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 on merit — a first for the Lions in history.
The architect of this monumental achievement? Interim Lions head coach Gavin Lee.
The Lions sealed the historic qualification with a gritty 2-1 comeback win over Hong Kong in a winner-takes-all qualifier at the Kai Tak Stadium on 18 Nov.
Source: Football Association of Singapore
At just 35 years of age, Gavin took over the hot seat just months ago after the departure of Tsutomu Ogura.
He has since carried the immense weight of a nation’s football dreams and etched a historic result into Singapore’s sporting record in the process.
While his composure on the touchline is obvious, few know the dedication and personal sacrifices that paved his path from a junior coach to where he is today.
Here are five lesser-known facts about Gavin Lee, the interim Lions head coach.
When Gavin was appointed head coach of Tampines Rovers in 2019, he became the youngest-ever coach in the Singapore Premier League (SPL).
Even more remarkable was the fact that he also initially lacked the required Asian Football Confederation (AFC) “A” License necessary for the job.
Source: BG Tampines Rovers Football Club
The club had to seek special permission for his appointment, a testament to the belief former chairman Desmond Ong and the club had in him.
Gavin proved his worth almost immediately, guiding the Stags to a Singapore Cup victory and a second place finish in his rookie season.
Long before he was leading the Lions against regional powerhouses, Gavin was learning his trade at the grassroots level.
He began his coaching journey at 16, helping his father, Lawrence, a football coach himself, lay out cones at a football camp.
By 18 years old, he was coaching the various age groups at JSSL, a private football academy based in Singapore.
Source: Gavin Lee
From being in charge of teenagers, Gavin eventually worked his way up to become the general manager of the academy when he was just 25 years old.
Even at such a young age, his blend of technical expertise and administrative leadership had set him apart from his peers.
Gavin didn’t exactly set out to be a football coach right from the start.
Like many young aspiring local footballers, he trained in the National Football Academy (NFA) setup and played for the national U-14 team.
Back then, he trained alongside players such as current national team captain Hariss Harun and goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, among others.
Source: Hariss Harun on Instagram
However, Gavin was brutally self-aware despite his tender age.
He realised that the gap in ability between himself and these future stars was too large to bridge.
The realisation that he was not going to be a top player prompted him to focus on coaching instead, and the rest was history.
While pursuing a degree in Sports Science and Management at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Gavin’s commitment to coaching was already bordering on obsessive.
He was conducting up to 14 coaching sessions a week for JSSL, a schedule that was effectively a full-time job.
Source: Nanyang Technological University
This level of dedication also meant that his life was drastically different from that of his university peers.
He often had to skip the late-night supper runs, parties, and other social events to ensure he got enough rest for his morning training sessions.
Hence, he was given the nickname “old man” by his university mates for his “anti-social” lifestyle.
It seems that the Lee family has football deeply embedded within their DNA.
Gavin’s introduction to the sport and coaching began with his father, Lawrence Lee, who is a veteran youth coach for the Victoria Junior College girls’ team.
Source: Victoria Junior College on Facebook
His father was also formerly coaching the Tampines Rovers U12 side, which makes it seem like fate when Gavin took over as head coach back in 2019.
That said, the family talent in football extends beyond coaching.
Gavin’s younger sister, Genevieve Lee, also pursued football and was a youth international player before deciding to focus on her medical career.
Gavin’s journey — from the academy to the national dugout, from “cone guy” to history maker — is a powerful testament to the value of local expertise and relentless dedication to the sport.
The Asian Cup qualification is more than just a win.
It is also the culmination of years of sacrifice by a coach who truly believes in Singapore football.
Majulah Singapura!
Also read: S’pore qualifies for Asian Cup for the first time after beating Hong Kong 2-1
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Featured image adapted from Football Association of Singapore & Gavin Lee on Instagram.