Player-turned coach Akshay Das has been appointed as the Technical Director of Football Association of Odisha (FAO). His appointment was based on his credentials, expertise and experience in football, said FAO secretary Asirbad Behera in a press release today.

Das was a junior India footballer and represented India in the 32nd Asian Youth Qualifying Tournament in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2000. He represented Odisha in the Senior National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy three times in 2004, 2005 and 2008.

Before graduating to senior level, Das represented Bengal at the U-19 and U-21 National Football Championships in 1999. He also represented leading club teams of the country in almost all major all India tournaments.

Post his playing career he was into football coaching and became an AFC Level-A Certified coach in 2016. Before his appointment as the Technical Director of FAO he was working as a coach at the Tata Football Academy (JFC) since 2015. Das also performed as the coach of the Odisha State team in Santosh Trophy National Championship.