Delhi Dynamos appoint Miguel Angel Portugal as head coach

The Spaniard replaces Gianluca Zambrotta who led the Lions to the semis in the previous season...

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Delhi Dynamos have appointed Miguel Angel Portugal as the team's new head coach for the upcoming season. The Spaniard replaces Italian Gianluca Zambrotta who had lead the team to the semis in the last edition, where they lost on penalies to Kerala Blasters.

he 61-year old who was last serving as the first team head coach of Algerian outfit Club Sportif Constantinois will take charge of Delhi Dynamos from July 1st 2017.

In a managerial career spanning over two decades the tactician has coached in countries such as Bolivia, Algeria, Brazil and Spain. He has served as the technical secretary for Real Madrid for 2 years and is the first ever Spaniard to coach in 1st Division in Brazil, when he took charge of Atlético Paranaense. Under his management, Spanish outfit, Racing Santander finished in the semifinals of the Copa Del Rey in 2009, the club’s best finish in the domestic club competition of Spain.

Speaking after joining the capital team ahead of the new season Portugal said, “I am delighted to be the new manager of Delhi Dynamos F.C. I believe that India has a lot of potential in football and I want to do my best to help grow football in Northern India. This will be an amazing challenge for me and I’m sure I will excel.” 

As a player Portugal was part of Real Madrid’s double winning campaign in 1979-1980, helping the side win both the La Liga and the Copa Del Rey. In a playing career spanning over a decade and a half he also turned out for clubs like Rayo Vallacano, Valladolid and Cordoba amongst others. 

Delhi Dynamos director Rohan Sharma said: “I’m ecstatic to have Coach Portugal leading our club this year. Coach Portugal is an incredibly smart manager who has ‘literally’ written a book on how to coach a team successfully. Coach Portugal has also managed in different countries, which shows his ability to adapt to any situation. I look forward to his reign at Delhi,”

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The only ISL outfit from the nation's capital Dynamos have also been one of its most consistent teams, making it to the playoffs in two of the three seasons so far. The Lions will be hoping Portugal can help them go a few steps firther as they bid to win a first title in the competition's new expanded avatar.