Manolo Marquez has been appointed as the new coach of the India men’s football team following the acrimonious exit of Igor Stimac over a month ago. Marquez, a 55-year-old Spaniard who has been coaching league teams in India since 2020, will immediately take on the role for the national team. The All India Football Federation expressed their delight in welcoming Marquez to this important position and looks forward to working with him in the coming years. Marquez, with over two decades of international football management experience, had been the coach of FC Goa since June last year and considers India his “second home.”
The AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey stated that they are excited to have Marquez on board and believe that he will bring success to the millions of football fans in India. Marquez himself expressed gratitude to AIFF for the opportunity and vowed to do his best to achieve success with the national team. This comes after the unceremonious sacking of former coach Stimac in June due to India team’s poor performance in World Cup qualifiers. Stimac’s five-year tenure came to a controversial end, with accusations from the federation claiming that he used astrology to select his teams.
Stimac, a former West Ham and Croatia defender who played in a World Cup semi-final for Croatia in 1998, took over as India coach in 2019. Under his guidance, the team briefly broke into the top 100 of FIFA’s world rankings for only the second time in nearly three decades. India, often referred to as a “sleeping giant” in the football world by former FIFA president Sepp Blatter, are currently ranked 124th. With the appointment of Marquez, there is renewed hope among fans that the team will see a resurgence and improve their performance on the international stage.
Marquez’s extensive experience in football management and his familiarity with the Indian league system make him a suitable candidate to lead the national team. His commitment to bringing success and his dedication to the millions of football fans in India have already garnered him support and praise. With the backing of AIFF and the enthusiasm of the players, Marquez will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on Indian football and help the team reach new heights in the coming years.
As Marquez begins his new role as coach of the India men’s football team, there will be high expectations and pressure to deliver results. The team will be looking to improve their ranking and performance in international tournaments under his leadership. With his passion for the sport and his determination to succeed, Marquez is poised to make a significant difference and bring a new era of success to Indian football. Only time will tell how successful his tenure will be, but there is optimism and hope for a bright future for the national team under his guidance.
