Khalid Jamil takes charge at Nepal Super League club FC Chitwan

Khalid Jamil was the first Indian to work on a full-time head coach role in the ISL.

Nepal Super League (NSL) side FC Chitwan have appointed former NorthEast United manager Khalid Jamil as their new head coach ahead of the 2023-24 NSL season. Jamil joins the Nepalese side on a one year deal.

Jamil is a great addition for FC Chitwan as he has the required experience to take them to the next level. Jamil’s appointment is not less than a statement signing for the Panthers. The 46-year-old succeeds Nepalese head coach Meghraj KC at the helm.

Khalid Jamil's career

Khalid Jamil has been a prominent name in the Indian footballing circuit. He was a smart midfielder during his playing days and played for the then top clubs Mahindra United and Air India. 

However, he is known more for his heroics as a head coach than a player. Khalid is a holder of the AFC Pro License, the highest coaching licence in Asia and has done some wonders to remember in Indian football.

He started  his coaching career with Mumbai FC in 2009 and coached them until 2015. In 2016 came his move to Aizawl FC which changed everyone’s perspective towards him and made him one of the best coaches that the country has ever produced.

He won the I-League with Aizawl FC, against all odds, and made his mark. In the next two seasons, Jamil went on to coach both the Kolkata giants. He managed East Bengal in 2017-18 and Mohun Bagan (short stint) in 2018-19.

After that, he took up the role of the assistant coach at NorthEast United and began his journey in the Indian top flight. After spending one and a half seasons as an assistant coach, Khalid Jamil was handed NorthEast United’s reins midway through the 2020-21 season.

He took NorthEast United on a magical run and shocked everyone. The Highlanders recorded their best-ever finish in the ISL under Jamil. The following season he was assigned the head coach role on a permanent basis making him the first Indian head coach in the ISL. But, things didn’t go his way in the 2021-22 season which led to his exit from the club.

He joins FC Chitwan after a brief stint with I-League Second Division side FC Bengaluru United where he clinched the Stafford Challenge Cup.