Jamshedpur FC reappoint Owen Coyle as their head coach ahead of ISL 2025-26

Owen Coyle had previously led Jamshedpur FC to the ISL League Shield.

Jamshedpur FC have officially brought back Owen Coyle as head coach, ushering in a familiar yet firmly ambitious phase for the Red Miners ahead of the ISL 2025-26 season. The Scottish manager, with his assistant Sandy Stewart, is reportedly set to sign a two-year contract with the Jamshedpur side.

Coyle begins his second stint with the club after previously spending two seasons at the helm between 2020 and 2022, a period that remains the most successful in Jamshedpur’s history.

Coyle comes back to his familiar territory

Appointed head coach on August 7, 2020, he quickly transformed the team into a disciplined yet free-flowing attacking unit. The defining moment came in the 2021–22 season, when Jamshedpur FC finished top of the league table to lift the ISL League Winners’ Shield, the first major silverware in the club’s history.

Under Coyle, the Red Miners developed a clear tactical identity built around quick transitions, high energy, and fearless attacking intent. That success laid the foundation for the club’s growing reputation as one of the ISL’s toughest sides to break down.

Owen Coyle returns after an underwhelming season with Chennaiyin FC

Owen Coyle returns to his familiar turf after his most recent stint with Chennaiyin FC. It began ahead of the 2023–24 season, when Chennaiyin announced his return as head coach on July 16, 2023.

Under his guidance, the Marina Machans qualified for the ISL playoffs for the first time in four years, finishing sixth in the standings.

Their campaign, however, ended in the knockout round following a defeat to FC Goa. After a mixed 2024–25 season marked by inconsistency across competitions, Chennaiyin and Coyle mutually agreed to part ways on July 17, 2025.

Before that, Coyle had already made his mark at Chennaiyin during his first spell, which began on December 3, 2019. He immediately revived their attacking football, helped them end the season as the league’s highest scorers, and guided them to the ISL final. Although Chennaiyin lost 3-1 to ATK in the final, they finished the campaign as runners-up, reaffirming Coyle’s ability to deliver results in a short span of time.

Also Read: ISL 2025-26: Bengaluru FC name Renedy Singh as head coach for upcoming season

Jamshedpur FC’s last season in Indian football

Jamshedpur FC enjoyed an impressive 2024–25 ISL season under Khalid Jamil, who has since taken over as head coach of the Indian national team. The Red Miners reached the playoffs and progressed to the semifinals, where they faced defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant. After securing a 2-1 home win in the first leg, Jamshedpur fell 2-0 away in Kolkata, exiting the tournament on a 3-2 aggregate. Despite the elimination, they stood out for their strong Indian core, resilience, and formidable home form.

Things were less convincing in the AIFF Super Cup 2025–26 under interim head coach Steven Dias. Jamshedpur finished third in Group B with four points, losing 2-0 to FC Goa, drawing 2-2 with NorthEast United, and signing off with a confident 2-0 victory over Inter Kashi.

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