East Bengal appoint Shanmugam Venkatesh as assistant coach

The 43-year-old recently managed the India U-20 side in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

East Bengal FC are pleased to appoint Mr Shanmugam Venkatesh as their Assistant Coach for the ongoing season. Mr Bino George will continue to be the Head Coach of the Reserves team.

The appointment marks Shanmugam Venkatesh's return to East Bengal for whom he made 17 appearances in the 2002/03 season. The former midfielder also plied his trade for Indian Telephone Industries, Salgaocar, Mohun Bagan, and the erstwhile Mahindra United and Pune FC during his 18-year-long professional career.

As a player, Shanmugam Venkatesh won the National Football League and the Durand Cup with the Red & Gold Brigade in the 2002/03 season. He also represented the Indian team between 1997 and 2006, claiming three SAFF Championship titles (1997, 1999 and 2005) in the process.

The 43-year-old also has a decent amount of coaching experience under his belt, having served as assistant to current EBFC Head Coach Stephen Constantine during the latter’s second spell at the helm of the National Team between 2015 and 2019. The AFC A license-holder has also coached the Indian U-19 side in the past and was in charge of the Indian U-20 squad that competed in Group H of the recently-concluded AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Speaking about Shanmugam Venkatesh’s appointment, Mr Constantine told the EBFC Media Team on Wednesday, “I think Venky will be a great addition to the team. He worked as my assistant at the Indian National Team for four years. He played under me as well. He will be a big help in identifying new talented players for East Bengal FC. I am looking forward to working with him again.”

East Bengal's performance in the ISL 2022-23

The Red & Golds, after four matches in ISL 2022-23, find themselves in the ninth position with just one win from these games. The solitary victory came against NorthEast United in Game-week 3. The club has suffered three losses, against Kerala Blasters, FC Goa and arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan.