Manolo Marquez AIFF's Hot Favourite to Take Over as Indian Football Team's Next Coach - Report
Current FC Goa coach Manolo Marquez is set to be named the Indian Football team's next head coach. Since the sacking of Igor Stimac after India failed to qualify for the AFC Asian qualifiers third round, Stimac was let go by the AIFF and they had floated an advertisement seeking applications to lead the Blue Tigers. Marquez, who has previously coached Hyderabad FC had also submitted his name in the fray and therefore he has been chosen as the next candidate to succeed Stimac.The AIFF executive committee has cleared Marquez to take over as the Indian head coach, pending agreement on a three-year contract. Related News | AIFF Awards: Meet India's Best Football Players In 2023-24East Bengal-Mohun Bagan 'Tug Of War' For Anwar Ali To Be Decided By FIFA? Here's All You Need To KnowMarquez had been appointed FC Goa's coach in 2023, before which he worked for three seasons with Hyderabad FC. He guided the Nizams to the ISL crown in 2022, and also they finished twice as the runners-up in the ISL Shield. Apart from being known as a tactical mastermind, Marquez, the 55-year-old is also known for developing young talent and giving new players plenty of opportunities to shine. At Hyderabad, the Spaniard groomed players like Mohammed Yasir, Liston Colaco, Akash Mishra, Chinglesana Singh, Nikhil Poojary and Jay Gupta, except Yasir, all of the aforementioned names would go on to make their India debuts.The AIFF committee were hopeful of appointing a head coach who knows Indian football inside out, and since Marquez has been coaching in the subcontinent for a while, he knows the Indian players and has a proven record, his appointment makes total sense. Related News | AIFF Calls Sports Ministry's Number For HelpAccording to News 9, Manolo Marquez edged out fellow Spaniard Antonio Lopez Habas and Sanjo Sen to take over the reins. While Marquez is likely to keep working with FC Goa until his contract runs out, he will then take over full-time as Indian head coach as the AIFF coffers are in a precarious state. Since sacking Stimac, the apex body is currently embroiled in a dogfight with the Croatian who has threatened to drag AIFF to the FIFA tribunal over the pending salary of his contract that ran until June 2026.AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey is known to be negotiating with Marquez over his salary, and his immediate concern would be rebuilding the side for the road ahead as India missed out on the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers.
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