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Time of India
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
India starts hunt for new coach as Manolo quits after mutual agreement with AIFF
Manolo Marquez, who did a dual job last season, also coaching FC Goa, took charge of the national team in July last year Panaji: Manolo Marquez's tenure as coach of the national football team ended after just eight games as the Spanish coach and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) mutually decided to part ways. The decision was endorsed during the AIFF executive committee meeting in the Capital on Wednesday. Under Manolo's watch, India won just one international friendly against Maldives, while losing both games – Thailand and Hong Kong – as full-time coach since last month. The coach had two years left on his existing contract. 'We are parting ways without any financial implication to either of the two parties,' AIFF deputy secretary general Satyanarayan M told TOI. 'We will now advertise for a new national team coach, inviting applications from those interested in the job.' When AIFF followed a similar process last year following the sacking of Igor Stimac, it received 291 applications, which included 100 with UEFA Pro License diplomas, 20 with Asia's highest coaching degree and three with from South America. Facing a cash crunch, the AIFF eventually decided to rope in Manolo as coach of club-and-country. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Зачем на ночь сжигают лавровый лист? Undo by Taboola by Taboola Some members, including those in the technical committee, are now in favour of an Indian as coach with Khalid Jamil and Sanjoy Sen among the two names on top of that list. Sources though said no decision has been if the next coach will be an Indian or foreigner. 'We will need someone with experience of Indian football,' said one member who attended the meeting. 'It's never easy for a foreign coach to understand the country, its culture and the mindset. He will need at least six months (to settle down), and by that time the crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign would have been decided.' India are at the bottom of the four-team group with just a point from the first two games. Only the group winners qualify for the continental showpiece in Saudi Arabia. Manolo, who did a dual job last season, also coaching FC Goa , took charge of the national team in July last year. But while expectations were high, given his stint with FC Goa and Hyderabad FC, where he won the ISL trophy and developed several players, his record as national team coach left a lot to be desired. His eight games in-charge includes one win, four draws and three losses, two of them last month as India's full-time coach. This is the second time that Manolo has walked away from a top job. In 2017, as coach of Las Palmas in the La Liga, the Spaniard quit after just six matches though his contract was till the end of the season. 'It was a nice experience, a short one, but I realized that this was not the correct moment to be there,' Manolo had told TOI during a Townhall early this year. 'The dressing room was very dangerous. Now, since it's been some years, I can laugh about this but in those moments, I could not sleep.' Manolo has not yet spoken why he was reluctant to continue with the national team. Meanwhile, the executive committee proposed to increase match time for Indian players, particularly strikers, by reducing the number of foreign players in both leagues. 'In addition, a feasibility study will be conducted to explore the possibility of fielding an under-23 national team probables in the I-League, as part of long-term preparations for the Asian Games,' the AIFF said in a statement.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Unrealistic to expect victories without scoring goals: Kalyan Chaubey
Indian Football players (@IndianFootball via PTI Photo) New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is expected to start the hunt for a new coach once its technical committee and executive committee approve mutual termination of Manolo Marquez's contract at its meeting on June 29. Manolo, who took over as full-time coach only on June 1 after a dual role shared with FC Goa, has informed the federation that he does not want to continue with national team duties. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! According to sources, the contract can be terminated only if both parties agree. 'We have an executive committee meeting on June 29, where we will take a call (on Manolo's future),' AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey told reporters in the Capital on Friday. Yashasvi Jaiswal's Coach on England Prep, Opening Partner, & Playing Under Gill 'Manolo Marquez is one of the longest serving foreign coaches in Indian football. Over the years, he has managed multiple clubs and won trophies, including ISL trophy and Super Cup. Compared to others, his understanding of Indian football, including strengths, weakness of Indians, as well as opportunities and challenges within the Indian ecosystem, is better.' Under Manolo, India have won just once — against lowly Maldives at home — in eight matches but even more worryingly, failed to score in the last three matches. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No dark spots, 10 years younger! Just take this from Guardian URUHIME MOMOKO Learn More Undo This includes a home draw against Bangladesh and away defeats to Thailand and Hong Kong. Goalscoring has been a consistent problem and reflects in the mere seven goals that the team has scored in 15 matches since Jan 2024. India have also not won a competitive game since Nov 2023. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? 'It is unrealistic to expect wins without scoring goals. There has been a steady decline in goals being scored from 1.64 (in 2015) to 0.75 currently. While we appreciate Sunil Chhetri's efforts at 40, as a nation we also need to ensure there was supply of more forwards in a systematic manner. 'It's difficult for wa player who has played the supporting role in the club for 11 months, to shift to the No. 9 role (in international matches). We have not had positive strikers in the last 10 years,' said Chaubey. Only Chhetri, India's highest goalscorer, has been a constant feature in the starting lineups of the last four national team coaches: Bob Houghton, Stephen Constantine, Igor Stimac and Manolo Marquez. The AIFF is hoping it can solve the striking woes and overcome India's wretched run of form, with the inclusion of OCI players. Chaubey said his office has contacted 33 footballers from across the world, some of whom already have the Overseas Citizen of India card, while others are being assisted by the federation. 'Like all sports federations (in India), AIFF is committed to aligning with the laws of the land. Under FIFA's framework and regulations, we are also actively exploring the possibility of securing approval for the inclusion of OCI players in the national team,' said Chaubey.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Unrealistic to expect wins without scoring goals, says AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey
Manolo Marquez (left) took over as full-time coach only on June 1 after a dual role shared with FC Goa, has informed the AIFF that he does not want to continue The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is expected to start the hunt for a new coach once its Technical Committee and Executive Committee approves mutual termination of Manolo Marquez's contract at its meeting on June 29. Manolo, who took over as full-time coach only on June 1 after a dual role shared with FC Goa, has informed the federation that he does not want to continue with national team duties. According to sources, the contract can be terminated only if both parties agree. 'We have an Executive Committee meeting on June 29, where we will take a call (on Manolo's future),' AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey told reporters in the Capital on Friday. 'Manolo Marquez is one of the longest serving foreign coaches in Indian football. Over the years, he has managed multiple clubs and won trophies, including ISL trophy and Super Cup. Compared to others, his understanding of Indian football, including strengths, weakness of Indians, as well as opportunities and challenges within the Indian ecosystem is better. ' Under Manolo, India have won just once – against lowly Maldives at home – in eight matches but even more worryingly, failed to score in the last three matches. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like เทรดทองCFDsกับโบรกเกอร์ที่เชื่อถือได้| เปิดบัญชีวันนี้ IC Markets สมัคร Undo This includes a home draw against Bangladesh and away defeats to Thailand and Hong Kong. Goal-scoring has been a consistent problem and reflects in the mere seven goals that the team has scored in 15 matches since January 2024. India have also not won a competitive game since November 2023. 'It is unrealistic to expect wins without scoring goals. There has been a steady decline in goals being scored from 1.64 (in 2015) to 0.75 currently. While we appreciate Sunil Chhetri's efforts at 40, as a nation, we also need to ensure there's supply of more forwards in a systematic manner. It's difficult for a player who has played the supporting role in the club for 11 months, to shift to the number nine role (for international matches). We don't have positive strikers in the last 10 years,' said Chaubey. Only Chhetri, India's highest goalscorer, has been a constant feature in the starting lineups of the last four national team coaches: Bob Houghton, Stephen Constantine, Igor Stimac and Manolo Marquez. The AIFF is hoping it can solve the striking woes and overcome India's wretched run of form, with the inclusion of OCI players. Chaubey said his office has contacted 33 footballers from across the world, some of whom already have the Overseas Citizen of India card, while others are being assisted by the federation. 'Several countries ranked below India in FIFA ranking have adopted the policy of allowing naturalised players,' said Chaubey. 'This strategic move has contributed to their positive performances and better global standing. AIFF has proactively initiated communication with relevant departments regarding inclusion of OCI players. The initial response has been encouraging but we are fully aware that such changes do not happen overnight. 'Like all sports federations (in India), AIFF is committed to aligning with the laws of the land. Under FIFA's framework and regulations, we are also actively exploring the possibility of securing approval for the inclusion of OCI players.' Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
