Namdhari FC mutually part ways with Francesc Bonet after just five games in charge

Francesc Bonet joined the club in October.

After just five games into the new and their initial I-League season, Namdhari FC brought in quite a surprise, and mutually parted ways with their head coach Francesc Bonet.

Namdhari’s season started in a pretty grumpy fashion, as the Punjab-based outfit only picked up four points from their initial six games, and it is fair to say that nobody expected such a critical decision at this early stage of the competition.

About the coach

Born in Barcelona, Francesc Bonet started his managerial journey at a few local Catalonian clubs, where he used to train the youth team. 

In December 2021, I-League club Rajasthan United appointed Bonet as the head coach for 2021-22 season, where he put up an impressive display in his first-ever season as a first team incharge. 

On 27 December 2022, Bonet was appointed as the head coach of Gokulam Kerala. The Spaniard won nine and lost nine in the 18 games for which he was in-charge, as Gokulam finished third in the league that season. Francesc left the club in June 2023. 

On the 6th of October 2023, Bonet was appointed as Namdhari FC's head coach, and a lot was expected from the Spaniard, but as fate would have it, not even halfway into the season, Bonet has bid adieu to the club.

The aftermath 

The reaction from the Indian footballing fraternity to this news has been somewhat critical, and a lot of criticism is being directed towards the club for making such a decision so early into the season. 

Namdhari now have to look for a new head coach, as their season is currently in a very delicate position. They played today against Sreenidi Deccan without a head coach in the dugout and lost the game as well. A radical and correct decision for a befitting new head coach needs to be taken at the earliest, as with each passing game Namdhari are struggling to put points on the board.