Bengaluru FC in talks with Manolo Marquez to take over as head coach

The Spaniard guided Hyderabad FC to the ISL title in 2021-22 season.

Bengaluru FC could have a new coach at the helm next season, if things go their way. The Blues, who are reeling in seventh in ISL 2022-23 and haven't made the playoffs since the 2019-20 season, are close to appointing Hyderabad FC boss Manolo Marquez as their head coach next summer. Marquez guided Hyderabad FC to the ISL title last season. He has also kept the Nizams in the race for the ISL League Winners' Shield this season and secured a second successive playoffs berth with five league games remaining.

The Blues are currently in advanced talks with the 54-year-old Spaniard with an agreement only pending a green signal from Marquez. "Bengaluru FC are in close talks with Manolo Marquez," a source close to the development informed Khel Now. "The club have offered him a two-year contract and are awaiting an answer from the Hyderabad FC boss before the deal can go through," the source added.

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Marquez, who signed a two-year contract extension with Hyderabad FC in 2021, is in the final year of his contract. He is likely to leave the Nizams at the end of this season and join Bengaluru FC next.

His arrival will certainly be good news for the Indian players and more importantly the youngsters at the club. Marquez has transformed Hyderabad FC into title contenders since taking over in 2020. His work with Indian talents and his ability to bring the full potential out of them has made Marquez one of the best coaches in Indian football in recent years.

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Manolo Marquez at Hyderabad FC

Interestingly, Manolo Marquez only arrived at Hyderabad FC because Albert Roca, who was originally supposed to take over, moved to Barcelona as the fitness and conditioning coach under then boss Ronald Koeman.

In his first season at the club, Hyderabad FC finished fifth in the league, missing out on the playoffs berth by a mere two points. That however changed next season, as they made rapid strides to finish second in the league stage. Hyderabad FC then reached the final and beat Kerala Blasters on penalties to win the ISL title.

They were also on course to win the league shield before a COVID breakout in the team towards the latter stages of the league left them short by five points. This season Hyderabad FC are four points behind league leaders Mumbai City FC with five games remaining.