Bal Gopal Maharjan

Bal Gopal Maharjan (बाल गोपाल महर्जन, born 28 August 1975) is a retired Nepali football player who most recently was coaching the Nepal men's national team. He was in the squad which won the historic 1993 South Asian Games gold. After his retirement from football, Bal Gopal has been busy coaching different age level Nepalese teams.

Career
His major achievement during his playing career was the 1993 South Asian Games gold medal. From 1991 to 1993, he played for Bangladeshi club Brothers Union. He also appeared with Indian NFL side Mahindra United in 2001–02. After retirement, he started his coaching career with Three Star Club of Nepal.

Maharjan led the national team to victory in the 2015 SAFF U-19 Championship and again in 2016 Bangabandhu Cup.

On 1 June 2016, Bal Gopal was appointed head coach of Brothers Union on a three-month contract, thus became the first Nepali to coach a top-tier football club in another country.

On 10 June 2018, he was appointed as the assistant coach of Nepal national football team under head coach Koji Gyotoku ahead of 2018 Asian Games.

On 25 August 2018, he was appointed as the interim head coach of the national team. Maharjan takes over from head coach Koji Gyotoku after the Japanese national was entangled into visa issues.

On 8 September 2018, Nepal defeated hosts Bangladesh 2–0 to enter the semifinals of 2018 SAFF Championship and Bal Gopal Maharjan became the first Nepalese coach to lead Nepal to SAFF semifinals.

He also managed Nepal, that won 2021 Three Nations Cup defeating Bangladesh.

Player

 * Brothers Union
 * Bangladesh Federation Cup (1): 1991
 * Nepal
 * SAG Football (1): 1993

Manager

 * Nepal U20
 * SAFF U-19 Championship (1): 2015
 * Nepal
 * Bangabandhu Cup (1): 2016
 * Three Nations Cup (1): 2021
 * Nepal U23
 * South Asian Games (1): 2019