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The AIFF has appointed Manolo Marquez, currently FC Goa’s head coach, as the head coach of the Indian men’s football team. Marquez will juggle both roles during the 2024-25 season.
Key Points
- AIFF appoints Manolo Marquez as head coach of the Indian men’s football team.
- Marquez will concurrently serve as head coach of FC Goa during the 2024-25 season.
- Marquez has extensive experience in Indian football, having coached Hyderabad FC and FC Goa.
- He led Hyderabad FC to an ISL Cup victory in the 2021-22 season.
- Marquez aims to bring success and development to the Indian national team.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced the appointment of Spaniard Manolo Marquez as the new head coach of the Indian men’s football team. Marquez, who is currently the head coach of Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa, brings extensive knowledge and experience in Indian football, particularly in coaching national team players and young talents.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey expressed his enthusiasm about Marquez’s appointment, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Marquez to this important role and are also thankful to FC Goa for their generosity of releasing him for national duty. We look forward to working with Mr. Marquez in the years ahead. The AIFF, FC Goa, and Mr. Marquez will collaborate closely to ensure there is minimal impact between the two jobs and strive to achieve the best possible results for all involved.”
According to the AIFF, during the 2024-25 season, Marquez will continue his role as the head coach of the first team at FC Goa while simultaneously handling responsibilities as the head coach of the national team. He will fully assume the national coaching role on a full-time basis after this period.
Responding to his appointment, Marquez said, “It’s an honour for me to be the National Football Team coach of India, a country I consider my second home. India and its people are something I feel attached to and I feel a part of since I first came to this beautiful country. I want to do my best to bring success to the millions of fans we have. I am very grateful to FC Goa for allowing us the flexibility to help the national team during the coming season while I am still the club’s head coach. I’m grateful to the AIFF for this opportunity and we hope to do great things for football.”
Aged 55, Manolo Marquez has been coaching in India since 2020, with stints at two ISL clubs. He first coached Hyderabad FC from 2020 to 2023, leading them to an ISL Cup victory in the 2021-22 season. He then moved to FC Goa in 2023. Marquez has a distinguished coaching career in Spain as well, which adds to his vast experience in the sport.
His appointment is expected to bring a wealth of expertise to the national team, especially in nurturing young talent. Many national team players in recent years have been called up from his Hyderabad FC team, showcasing his ability to develop and elevate players to the international level.
