Delhi Dynamos appoint Mridul Banerjee as new assistant coach

The move comes after former assistant coach Shakti Chauhan parting ways with the Delhi-based side.

Indian Super League (ISL) franchise Delhi Dynamos have appointed Mridul Banerjee as the new assistant coach of the side. The move comes after the Delhi based side parted ways with their former assistant coach Shakti Chauhan earlier this month.

A familiar name in the Kolkata Maidan, Banerjee was plying his trade as the head coach of Mohammedan Sporting Club in the 2nd Division I-League before making his way to the ISL fold. The former West Bengal Santosh Trophy head coach was in the radar of other top clubs such as East Bengal but decided to strike a deal with the ISL franchise.

Banerjee was awarded the Best Coach in Calcutta Premier League (CFL) in 2016

The AFC A-Licensed coach guided the West Bengal U-21 team to two successive championships in 2001 & 2002 and also led Mohammedan Sporting to a second-place finish in the Calcutta Premier League in 2016, where he was adjudged as the ‘Best Coach’.

“It is the ideal step in my career at this point. ISL has grown immensely and is now the premier league of India and I am delighted to be a part of a club that has done extremely well during the last four years. The club has shown great faith in young footballers and as a coach, it is a philosophy that I have as well, so I am looking forward to this new challenge with Delhi Dynamos,” Banerjee said following his appointment.

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“We are delighted to have someone like Mridul Banerjee join the club. He comes with great experience and is the sort of coach who understands the club’s philosophy. Mridul is very well respected as a coach and we are confident that his tactical acumen and man-management skills can help the club thrive,” Delhi Dynamos Director Rohan Sharma said.

Regarded as one of the best man managers around, Banerjee has prior experience of coaching in other top-flight clubs in Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Although his stint with the latter did not last very long and was cut short for an injury last season, he is expected to be an able replacement of Shakti Chauhan in the Dynamos’ dressing room.

The 59-year-old joins the club on the back of close to three decades of coaching experience that has seen him being associated with the likes of Mohun Bagan, Indian Arrows, India U-16 and India U-19 among others.

The recent times have seen the Dynamos encountering hurdles in the age group tournaments. With the appointment of Banerjee, who is regarded throughout the country for his contribution to grassroots football, the capital-based side can hope for a change in the scenario.