Antonio Lopez Habas set to join reigning ISL champions East Bengal FC as head coach

Habas took Bolivia to the Copa America Finals against Brazil before winning the top silverware in India.

Arguably, the greatest coach in the Indian football fraternity, Antonio Lopez Habas, is all set to return to the city of joy, but this time as the head coach of East Bengal FC to retain top domestic honours for the Red and Gold Brigade.

After a long wait of nearly two decades, East Bengal FC got the better of Inter Kashi in the final matchweek of the Indian Super League after a dramatic 2-1 comeback win to become the champions of India. Despite being tied on the same points and head-to-head with Kolkata rivals Mohun Bagan, the Torchbearers had a superior goal difference.

Former Mallorca assistant coach Oscar Bruzon took over the reins as East Bengal head coach at a time when the club was in turmoil after Carles Cuadrat parted ways mid-season after a series of defeats. Bruzon did a commendable job in transforming East Bengal from a mid-to-bottom-table side to a serious contender in major tournaments.

Under Bruzon, East Bengal knocked on the doors of continental football after reaching the Super Cup finals, but the Gaurs defeated them narrowly on penalties. Kolkata derbies no longer saw the Mariners’ domination as East Bengal defeated them in the Durand Cup quarterfinals, and finally, Bruzon propelled East Bengal to become ISL champions.

However, ahead of the new domestic season, Oscar Bruzon parted ways with the Torchbearers, and now the Red and Gold Brigade are set to welcome another Spaniard to take over the reins.

Habas is one of the most successful coaches in Indian football

If we turn back the hands of time, the Pozoblanco defender has rubbed shoulders with some of the greatest footballers in the world during his playing days in Atletico Madrid and Sevilla. He was part of the Murcia team that won the Segunda Division and gained promotion to La Liga in 1983.

After hanging his boots, Habas turned to coaching in his early days, he even managed the Bolivia national team in two Copa America tournaments and even led them to Copa America Finals before Brazil defeated them 3-1 after strikes from Ronaldo and Denilson.

After managing top teams across the world like Celta Vigo and Valencia in Spain to Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa, he set foot on India for the first time with Atletico De Kolkata in the inaugural ISL season, where he went on to become the first coach to become ISL Champions, back in 2014.

After a short stint with FC Pune City, he returned to ATK and won the ISL by defeating Owen Coyle’s Chennaiyin FC behind closed doors and became the first manager to achieve the feat twice with the same team. When Juan Ferrando was sacked, he was the technical director of Mohun Bagan Super Giant and came to their rescue by serving as the interim coach.

He took a new challenge to manage Inter Kashi and went on to win the I League and secure a promotion to the Indian top flight with the Uttar Pradesh outfit. Habas left the Varanasi side midseason due to growing frustrations over financial uncertainty.

Can Habas retain top domestic honours and bring continental pride to the Torchbearers?

The century-old East Bengal FC have represented India and made the country proud on several occasions previously. From winning the ASEAN Club Championship in 2003 to the Central Asia Champions’ Cup in 1986, East Bengal has a long history of winning top continental silverware.

Habas is the perfect fit for East Bengal. He is a highly decorated manager who knows how to win trophies. Managing an elite club like East Bengal is never for the faint-hearted. There are always too many expectations, less room for errors and pressure to win every game and win every competition they play.

The Torchbearers could not find anyone better to soak that pressure. Moreover, Habas has previously led Mohun Bagan and knows the pressure of managing in the Kolkata Derby. Habas brings a disciplined approach, and his style aligns directly with key signings like Danish Farooq, Boris Singh, and Sandip Mandi.

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