The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced that Manolo Marquez will take on the role of head coach for the Indian men's national football team. Additionally, Marquez will continue to serve as head coach for FC Goa throughout the upcoming season, according to a press release. The press release announced that in the 2024-25 season, Mr. Marquez will maintain his position as the head coach of the first team at FC Goa. He will handle both roles simultaneously until he transitions to the full-time position of national coach.
Marquez, originally from Barcelona, Spain, has an impressive track record as a coach in India. During his initial tenure, he successfully turned Hyderabad FC from underdogs into champions of the ISL. Afterwards, he moved on to coach at Goa. In the previous season, Goa secured a third place finish in the league and made it to the semifinals in the playoffs.
Prior to arriving in India, Marquez gained considerable coaching experience in Spain at various clubs such as Las Palmas in the top division of La Liga, as well as Las Palmas B, Espanyol B, Badalona, Prat, and Europa in the third division. Previously, Indian fans had identified Marquez as a prospective option to take over for the departing Igor Stimac. However, due to his obligations to his club, he was categorized as a mere possibility. Nonetheless, it seems that the AIFF has reached an agreement with Goa and Marquez.
It is yet to be determined how Marquez will manage the responsibilities of being a coach for both a national and club team. This challenge is further complicated by the current situation of the national team after Sunil Chhetri's retirement, which will require a hands-on approach that Marquez is known for. Additionally, he will also need to focus on the changes happening within the Goa team as they deal with the departures of Brandon Fernandes and Noah Sadaoui. Successfully balancing these two roles will require a significant amount of effort and skill. Goa will participate in the usual ISL season and also have the Durand and Super Cups to compete in. Meanwhile, India will enter the next stage of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, in addition to playing in international friendly matches and tournaments organized by the AIFF such as the Intercontinental Cup and the SAFF Cup.
In an official statement, Kalyan Chaubey, the AIFF president, expressed his delight in welcoming Mr. Marquez to his new role and extended his gratitude to FC Goa for releasing him for national duty. He also mentioned that the AIFF, FC Goa, and Mr. Marquez will work closely together to minimize any conflicts between his two roles and strive to achieve the best outcomes for everyone involved long-term. FC Goa has issued a statement through their CEO Ravi Puskur, stating their commitment to the development of Indian football. They have been strong supporters of the sport and believe that their decision is in the best interest of the Indian national team. Puskur also expressed his confidence in new coach Manolo, who is highly respected in the Indian football community and has a good understanding of Indian culture. He hopes that these qualities will lead to success for both Manolo and the national team.
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