Latest news with #ManoloMarquez
News18
2 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
AIFF Technical Committee To Shortlist National Team Coach From 170 Applicants
Last Updated: The AIFF's technical committee, led by IM Vijayan, will meet to appoint a new head coach for the senior men's team after Manolo Marquez's exit. The All India Football Federation's (AIFF) technical committee, led by former India captain IM Vijayan, will meet on Wednesday to begin the process of appointing a new head coach for the senior men's national team. The post became vacant earlier this month after the AIFF and Spaniard Manolo Marquez parted ways by mutual consent following a string of poor performances. Selection Process Underway Following the coaching vacancy, the AIFF invited applications with a deadline of July 13. The federation has since received an overwhelming 170 applications from around the globe. According to a source close to the proceedings, the technical committee will evaluate all applications and create a shortlist to be forwarded to the AIFF Executive Committee (EC), which will make the final decision. With a FIFA international window in September and crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore set for October 9 and 14, the AIFF is under pressure to expedite the appointment. The Executive Committee also has the authority to request additional names or further clarification before making a decision. Several high-profile names have expressed interest in the job. Former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler—who previously coached East Bengal—and Harry Kewell are among the applicants, as is Peter Segrt, who has managed Tajikistan, Maldives, and Afghanistan. Stephen Constantine, who coached India in two separate stints (2002–2005 and 2015–2019), is also in the fray. Most recently in charge of Pakistan, the 62-year-old has also coached East Bengal and national teams like Nepal, Malawi, and Rwanda. Among Indian contenders are Khalid Jamil, Santosh Kashyap, and Sanjoy Sen—the latter fresh off leading Bengal to a Santosh Trophy win and having won the I-League with Mohun Bagan in 2014–15. Other Notable Applicants Foreign coaches with ISL and I-League experience have also applied, including: Vacancy Opened After Marquez's Exit The AIFF officially opened applications on July 4, two days after accepting Manolo Marquez's resignation during its Executive Committee meeting on July 2. Though Marquez had expressed his desire to step down in April, he was requested to stay on until India's AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on June 10. India lost that match 1-0, concluding Marquez's one-year tenure with a disappointing record—no competitive wins in eight games and just one victory in a friendly. Under his leadership, India also fell to 133rd in the FIFA rankings. (with PTI inputs) First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Robbie Fowler, Harry Kewell apply for India coach job
PANAJI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has received 170 applications for the national team coach job, significantly lower than the 291 who applied for the same position it advertised last year. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The AIFF invited applications on July 4 after accepting Manolo Marquez's resignation at its executive committee meeting on July 2. The AIFF has not revealed the list of applicants, but those in the know confirmed several names who have shown interest. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! These include former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell, former Brazil U-17 coach Caio Zanardie and former Barcelona reserves manager Jordi Vinyals, who spent the last three years at Chinese Super League side Zhejiang Professional. Peter Segrt, former coach of Tajikistan, Maldives, and Afghanistan, has also knocked on AIFF's doors. Among the more familiar names, there's Stephen Constantine, who has managed more matches (73) than any other coach during his two stints with the national team. The English coach was last seen in India with East Bengal in 2022-23. Should the AIFF choose to look at higher-profile coaches working in India, they have two (ISL) champions in Spaniards Antonio Lopez Habas and Sergio Lobera, both among the more successful coaches in the top tier of Indian football. Among the home-grown coaches, Khalid Jamil, Sanjoy Sen and top the list. The AIFF will now go through the applications and prepare a long list. The new coach will have to take over the national team and boost its chances of making it to the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Liverpool stars Fowler, Kewell apply for India coach job
Former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler was head coach of East Bengal as the club made its ISL debut in 2020 Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has received 170 applications for the national team coach job, significantly lower than the 291 who applied for the same position it advertised last year. The AIFF invited applications on July 4 after accepting Manolo Marquez's resignation at its executive committee meeting on July 2. According to sources, there was a flurry of applications during the first three days, but when AIFF started compiling the list a week later, there weren't too many big names who had applied for the position. 'Last year there was massive interest in the job, many of them (current) national team coaches and those who had managed teams at the FIFA World Cup,' a senior official told TOI on Monday. 'This time around, there's also interest from across the world, but not as many high-profile candidates.' The AIFF has not revealed the list of applicants, but those in the know confirmed several names who have shown interest. These include former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell, former Brazil U-17 coach Caio Zanardie and former Barcelona reserves manager Jordi Vinyals, who spent the last three years at Chinese Super League side Zhejiang Professional. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brothers showcase turmeric and its golden status in Macanese cuisine MGTO Undo Peter Segrt, former coach of Tajikistan, Maldives, and Afghanistan, Roel Coumans, part of the Australia coaching staff at the 2018 World Cup, and Mauritania coach Aritz Lopez Garai have also knocked on AIFF's doors. Among the more familiar names, there's Stephen Constantine, who has managed more matches (73) than any other coach during his two stints with the national team. The English coach, last seen in India with East Bengal in 2022-23, has won four trophies with the national team: LG Cup (2002), SAFF Cup (2015), Tri Nation Series (2017) and Inter-Continental Cup (2018). Should the AIFF choose to look at higher-profile coaches working in India, they have options in two Indian Super League (ISL) champions in Spaniards Antonio Lopez Habas and Sergio Lobera, both among the more successful coaches in the top tier of Indian football. Staikos Vergetis, I-League winner with Punjab FC, has thrown his hat in the ring, while former Mohammedan Sporting coach Andrey Chernyshov has told the AIFF that he is 'happy to welcome local specialists among his coaching staff, confident in their high professionalism and discipline.' Among the home-grown coaches, Khalid Jamil, Sanjoy Sen and Santosh Kashyap top the list. The AIFF will now go through the applications and prepare a long list. The new coach will have to take over the national team and boost its chances of making it to the AFC Asian Cup 2027. India's hopes of qualifying for the continental showpiece took a major blow after a solitary goal loss against Hong Kong in the final round of qualifiers last month, which left them at the bottom of the group. With four games left to be played and only the group toppers making it to Saudi Arabia, India must win all remaining matches (two against Singapore and one each against Bangladesh and Hong Kong) to have the best chance of qualification, ahead of Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangladesh.
News18
4 days ago
- Business
- News18
Manolo Marquez To Continue As FC Goa Head Coach For 2025-26 Season
Last Updated: Manolo Marquez will stay as FC Goa head coach for the 2025-26 season. Since joining in 2023, he has led the team to success and aims to advance in Indian and Asian football. FC Goa announced that Manolo Marquez will remain as head coach for the 2025-26 season. After guiding the Gaurs through two successful campaigns, the Spanish tactician will stay on for a third season. 'I am very satisfied to join FC Goa for a third season. I was very happy during the previous two seasons, where the team showed consistent improvement each year. The level of organisation that the club operates with is not commonly observed in Indian club football, making FC Goa a very special club," Manolo Marquez said when speaking of his return to Goa. 'It was clear for me that if I were to continue in India, it had to be with FC Goa," he added. Marquez, who initially signed for the club in 2023 on a two-year deal, has become the longest-serving head coach of the Gaurs, with a campaign spanning 62 matches across all competitions. He begins his third season with ambitions to not only advance the club in Indian football but also in Asian football, following the victory in the Super Sup last season. His first assignment will be leading the club in the preliminary stage of the AFC Champions League 2, against the Omani Professional League team, Al-Seeb Club, at Fatorda on 13th August. Regarding Marquez's extension, FC Goa's CEO, Ravi Puskur, said, 'When the opportunity arose to bring Manolo back, it was one of the most straightforward decisions we've had to make at the club. Over the past two seasons, he has not only delivered results but done so with a clear identity and a deep commitment to improving the group as a whole." Leading FC Goa to two consecutive semi-final appearances in the ISL, Marquez's record includes four consecutive playoff appearances in top-tier Indian Football, reflecting his tactical brilliance. He has a unique ability to identify young talent and develop players into valuable assets for the club, bringing to the forefront players who have since gained significant acclaim in Indian football. Puskur added, 'Manolo's ability to bring out the best in players — individually and collectively — along with his sincerity, work ethic, and clarity of purpose, align perfectly with the values we hold at FC Goa. In an environment where continuity and consistency are often hard to come by, Manolo represents both. 'His desire to win matches the right way, while developing talent and instilling belief in the squad, made this decision an easy one. We are delighted to welcome him back and look forward to building on the strong foundation he helped lay." he further remarked on Marquez distinctly paving the path for a winning philosophy at the club. Marquez remains steadfast despite the challenge of certain key players exiting the club. 'I hope that in the next season the team will again be very competitive. We have almost twenty players continuing with us from the previous season, a rare number in the current footballing world. The new faces will of course have certain adjustments to make as we cannot change what worked for us. The hope always remains that we will fight well and that the crowd will be proud of this team," he said. What Will Be Manolo Marquez'S First Game Back As FC Goa Boss? Currently, Marquez is focused on the opportunity for the club to excel on the international stage, stating, 'It is obviously not a usual pre-season for us. Generally, you get about six to eight weeks of training before you arrive at the first ISL game in good conditions, having played multiple domestic competitions already. We are in a special situation, but a great one for us at the club where we also have the AFC match to look forward to. It will be a difficult game against Al-Seeb, but we are of course ready to play against them and the target will be to be there with our best foot forward." top videos View all Joining Marquez in his coaching staff this year are two new members — Spaniards Marc Gamon as the Goalkeeping coach, and David Ramos as the Strength & Conditioning coach — following the departure of Asier Ray Santin and Jose Carlos Barroso. Gamon completed a two-year stint with Belgian club KMSK Deinze and reunited with Marquez last year. For the 2024-25 season, Gamon was Marquez's goalkeeping coach for the Blue Tigers. They previously worked together at Hyderabad FC in the 2020-21 season. Ramos, new to Indian football, brings experience from coaching clubs in Spain and China. The rest of his coaching staff, including Assistant Coaches Benito Montalvo and Gouramangi Singh Moirangthem, continue their roles at the club. In a state where football is cherished, Coach Marquez has built a deep sense of trust within the Goan community. Marquez appreciates the relationship the fans share with FC Goa and credits them with being a motivational factor behind some significant wins for the Men in Orange. My connection with the fans has gotten better every season. The fans have been loyal even when the team went through some hard times. Their support towards the club is very big for us, and we would hope for it to continue this year for all our games." he said. About the Author Ritayan Basu Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, More News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : fc goa indian football Manolo Marquez view comments Location : Goa, India, India First Published: July 18, 2025, 18:03 IST News sports » football Manolo Marquez To Continue As FC Goa Head Coach For 2025-26 Season Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Manolo returns to FC Goa after official India exit
Manolo Marquez had a dual role last season, taking charge of the national team and continuing with his job as coach of FC Goa Panaji: Manolo Marquez has signed a new one-year contract with FC Goa after officially ending his stint as coach of the national football team. The Spanish coach had a dual role last season, taking charge of the national team and continuing with his job as coach of Goa. The experiment didn't fetch expected results as India won just one of the eight matches, so a month into his contract as a full-time coach, he decided it was best to part ways, mutually. Early this month, the AIFF executive committee considered the request and decided to terminate the two-year contract, without any financial implication. 'Once freed from his contract, it was only a mere formality for him to return to FC Goa,' a senior official told TOI on Thursday. AIFF has also terminated the contracts of Benito Montalvo (asst head coach), Jose Barroso (S&C coach) and Marc Gamon (goalkeeping coach). Two of the coaches – Benito and Marc – will continue with Manolo at Goa. Manolo achieved impressive results for his clubs – Hyderabad and Goa – winning trophies over five seasons in the country, but he will not look back at his national team stint with any fondness. India won one game out of eight that they played, a friendly against lower-ranked Maldives. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals His side also failed to score in the last two games, against Thailand (0-1) and Hong Kong (0-2), both of which they lost. For Goa, Manolo was a big hit, guiding the team to a second-placed finish in the ISL last season, and topping it with the Super Cup triumph. The win helped qualify for Asian competitions. Goa are preparing for the crucial AFC Champions League Two clash against Oman champions Al Seeb. Should the hosts cross the preliminary hurdle at Fatorda on Aug 13, they will move to the group stage where Cristiano Ronaldo 's Al-Nassr FC will be one of the participants. Manolo's return to Goa will hardly raise eyebrows, given that the experienced Spanish coach had made his admiration for the club known. Goa, too, were ready to welcome him with open arms. 'I think only a fool would turn down the opportunity to have Manolo as coach,' Goa CEO Ravi Puskur said during a Townhall With TOI last week. 'Given that he has expressed satisfaction at his time in Goa, we would obviously look to renew that partnership. 'From a pure numerical value, he is the most successful coach Goa have had. He built a very good group last season, perhaps the most united I've seen in the last ten years at the club. A large part of that is due to the coach's mentality.'
