Five coaches who parted ways with ISL clubs in midseason

Juan Ferrando left FC Goa to join ATK Mohun Bagan in 2021-2022 season.

The Indian Super League, since its establishment in 2014, has presented a plethora of captivating moments over the years, thereby contributing significantly to the development of football culture in the country.

In the mix of players, the role of coaches and managers has played a significant part in molding the game within the nation. Throughout the years, the Indian Super League has witnessed the involvement of renowned figures from the football community, like Zico, Roberto Carlos, Carles Cuadrat, John Gregory, Marco Materazzi and Des Buckingham and a few others. They have graced the league with their presence. 

Their tenure at the clubs, whether long or short, has been marked by their invaluable contributions to the game. While some have played pivotal roles in leading their clubs to victory and securing titles, others have faced premature contract terminations for various reasons.

In this article we will list down the names of the coaches who left the club midways during the ISL seasons.

Jose Manuel Diaz 

In the 2021-22 season, SC East Bengal’s head coach, Jose Manuel Diaz (popularly known as Manolo Diaz), was relieved of his duties after eight matches. Regrettably, the team was unable to secure a victory during this period, experiencing four defeats and four draws. Consequently, they found themselves positioned at the bottom of the league table under Diaz’s leadership.

Earlier, the Spaniard had taken over the position previously held by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler and assumed responsibility. However, he departed without securing a victory on Indian territory.

Antonio Lopez Habas

Antonio Lopez Habas was another Spanish coach who had to prematurely conclude his coaching tenure during the 2021-2022 season.

Habas, who held the position of manager at ATK Mohun Bagan, made the decision to part ways with the team following a streak of four matches without a win. During his tenure, he achieved remarkable success, winning two Indian Super League titles and guiding them to the inter-zonal semifinals of the AFC Cup.

Juan Ferrando

Season 2021-22 saw several coaches departing from their respective clubs during the midseason. Among them, Juan Ferrando was a notable figure who left FC Goa and subsequently joined ATK Mohun Bagan.

In the 2020-21 season, Juan successfully led FC Goa to the semifinals of the ISL. He also held the helm of the club during their inaugural and remarkable journey in the AFC Champions League, where they achieved a commendable third place in Group E. Under the guidance of the Spanish coach, the Gaurs also clinched their first tournament victory by emerging as the champions of the Durand Cup.

Sergio Lobera

Sergio Lobera, the Odisha FC coach also had to leave one of his previous clubs in ISL in the mid-season. In the 2019-2020 season, Sergio left FC Goa as he was sacked by the management. 

That was Lobera’s third season at Goa, with the team finishing third and second in his first two seasons. In the 2018-19 season, Goa had reached the final only to lose 1-0 in extra time to Bengaluru FC. However, they did achieve victory in the Super Cup a month later.

Des Buckingham

The most recent addition to the list is Des Buckingham. He has departed from Mumbai City FC during this current season in order to join English third division club, Oxford United. 

Buckingham joined Mumbai City FC in 2021. Under his guidance, the team not only won the ISL Shield title but also set new records for the highest number of points and goals scored in the history of the league. During his tenure, Mumbai City FC accomplished 39 triumphs out of 72 encounters, while also securing 12 draws and experiencing 21 defeats. His impressive win ratio of 54.17 percent positions him as one of the top head coaches in the Indian Super League.

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