Former Barcelona manager Xavi makes this astonishing claim about ISL

The Spanish wizard is enamoured by his fellow countrymen coaching in the league.

The Indian Super League (ISL) has seen the arrival and departure of many international stars in the past from European giants like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF. However, no country has ever exported more talent to the top division of Indian football than the European nation of Spain. Players and coaches from the country have found a lot of success in the subcontinent over the years.

In a recent interview with The Athletic, former Champions League winning and FC Barcelona icon Xavi Hernández shared his fandom of the ISL because of the Spanish head coaches working in the league. He stated, “I follow the Indian League because there are a lot of Spanish coaches there.”

ISL is a testing ground for Spanish coaches

Since the inception of the league in 2014, several Spaniard head coaches have coached teams in the league over the years. Several notable head coaches like Antonio López Habas, Sergio Lobera and Manolo Marquez have lasting legacies in the league with different teams.

The coaches have also tasted ISL glory with multiple titles while also being among some of the longest tenured coaches in league history. The Basque nation has also paved the way for a lot of tactical influence among Indian coaches. The understanding of the game has also grown significantly since the arrival of Spanish head coaches.

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Will Xavi ever coach in the ISL?

While the legendary Spaniard didn’t comment on possibly coaching in the league in the coming years, his comments reflect how far the league has come since its inception in 2014. Despite being a relatively newer footballing league among South Asian countries, the ISL has quickly created a name for itself in world football.

Coaches like Jose Molina and Manolo Marquez have shown how coaching from experienced Spanish coaches can help find success in the subcontinent. The high possession and patient football has now become a staple of footballing tactics in the ISL, and growing each year in influence.

With more Spanish tacticians like Gerard Zaragoza and Oscar Bruzon expected to leave a lasting legacy in the coming seasons, the ISL’s technical evolution appears to be in good hands. Footballing veterans like Xavi keeping a close watch on the ISL, is a glowing endorsement for Indian football fans and the Indian footballing ecosystem.

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