ISL: Chennaiyin FC Mutually Part Ways With Head Coach Owen Coyle
Chennaiyin and Coyle have parted ways after a disappointing 2024-25 ISL season. Coyle, who led the team to the playoffs in 2023, leaves as one of ISL's most successful managers.
Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Chennaiyin FC and head coach Owen Coyle have mutually agreed to part ways, the club announced on Thursday.
'Chennaiyin FC and Head Coach Owen Coyle have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank Vaathi for his invaluable contributions to the club and wish him the very best in his future endeavours," the club posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Coyle had signed a contract extension in 2023 that was set to keep him at the club until 2026.
Underwhelming Season Ends in Separation
Chennaiyin FC endured a disappointing 2024–25 ISL campaign, finishing 11th in the standings with just seven wins in 24 matches. Although the season began promisingly under Coyle's leadership — with the club remaining unbeaten on the road and collecting seven points from their first four games — they failed to build on that momentum.
Their campaign ended on a high note with a dominant 5-2 home win over Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but it wasn't enough to salvage the season or the coach's position.
This marked Coyle's second tenure at Chennaiyin. He first took over during the 2019–20 season, guiding the club from the brink of elimination to a remarkable ISL final appearance. After returning in 2023, he once again made an immediate impact, steering Chennaiyin into the playoffs for the first time in four years.
Widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in ISL history, the Scottish tactician previously won the ISL Shield with Jamshedpur FC and was celebrated for his ability to develop local talent, aligning well with Chennaiyin's vision of nurturing young Indian players.
ISL 2025–26 Season on Hold Amid Uncertainty
In a related development, the Indian Super League's 2025–26 season has been put on hold due to unresolved contractual issues between Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
FSDL, a subsidiary of IMG Reliance and the ISL's official organizer, issued a letter to participating clubs stating it could not 'effectively plan, organise, or commercialise the 2025–26 ISL season" in the absence of a new agreement.
The Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between FSDL and AIFF is set to expire on December 8, 2025, and negotiations for an extension have stalled, prompting the league to temporarily suspend planning activities for the upcoming season.
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First Published:
July 17, 2025, 17:39 IST
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