New Delhi: The All India Football Federation has decided to appoint a foreign head coach in Manolo Marquez for its men’s national football team despite having to cut corners due to an acute funds crunch.
The Spaniard was among the three coaches along with compatriot Antonio Lopz Habas and home-grown Sanjo Sen in race to succeed Igor Stimac.
But the 67-year old Habas’ suspect fitness owing age-related issues diminished his chances as the AIFF’s executive committee opted for the 55-year-old Marquez on Saturday.
He will be given a three-year deal with the option of continuing as the head coach of FC Goa for the forthcoming 2024-25 season after which he will take over on a full-time basis.
The arrangement will ease the financial burden on the AIFF as Marquez gets “upwards of $25,000 per month” as salary from Goa.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey has been tasked with leading the salary negotiation process with Marquez.
The AIFF wanted to hire a chief coach who “knows the current scenario of Indian football” and Marquez fitted the bill perfectly, having led Hyderabad FC to the Indian Super League Shield title in 2021-22 season.
He then took over at FC Goa on a multi-year deal from 2023-24 season and guided them to the third phase in the league, and were beaten finalists in the ISL Cup.
Sen who would have been the cheapest option but his absence from the full-time coaching circuit in the last two years despite having the educational qualification of a pro licence went against him.
No relegation in ISL
At the AIFF’s executive committee meeting, it was also decided that the relegation system wouldn’t be implemented in the top tier Indian Super League.
As per the Asian Football Confederation roadmap, relegation was to start in ISL from 2024-25 but the AIFF has decided not to go ahead as per the recommendation of the continental body.
The AIFF also decided to appoint Kerala Football Association’s secretary Anil Kumar as its full-time secretary general, with acting secretary M Satyanarayan continuing as his assistant.
The AIFF will appoint FC Goa’s Manolo Marquez as the men’s national team head coach on a three year contract. Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
