ISL: Kerala Blasters part ways with Ivan Vukomanovic

Ivan Vukomanovic joined Kerala Blasters in the summer of 2021.

Kerala Blasters and Ivan Vukamanovic have parted ways following a three-season stint by the Serbian, the club announced on Friday. 

Having joined the club ahead of the 2021-22 season, Vukomanovic was trusted with the job of rejuvenating one of Indian football’s most prestigious entities, that had been a part of a pretty grumpy ride. After Kerala Blasters ended 10th in the 2020-21 season, the management decided to bring in Vukomanovic to change things around.

The Blasters had also not qualified for the playoffs for the past four seasons, having previously played in the 2016 ISL final.

Upon his arrival, Ivan Vukomanovic was quick in making an impact for the team in yellow, and ended Kerala’s playoffs drought as his team finished fourth, and made it all the way to the final. The following season, Kerala once again made it to the playoff round, wherein an infamous encounter against Bengaluru ended their season on a rough note.

This season, despite all the injury issues looming around the Kerala Blasters’ first team, Ivan Vukomanovic remained resolute, and did an extremely good job in fielding new faces on the pitch, and guiding them to take Kerala into yet another playoff. 

With the defeat in the knockout game against Odisha, Kerala’s treacherous season came to a disappointing end, and only a week later, the club is now letting go of its biggest protagonist. 

“The Club bids goodbye to our Head Coach, Ivan Vukomanovic. We thank Ivan for his leadership and commitment and wish him the best in his journey ahead,” the club tweeted on Friday.

The Golden Handshake takes place! The Yellow Army bids farwell to Ivan Vukomanovic!End of an ERA at Kerala Blasters!#IndianFootball #ISL #KeralaBlasters #KBFC pic.twitter.com/2GEiiJ9UI8

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) April 26, 2024

Ivan Vukomanovic’s incredible tenure with the Blasters, also made him a fan favourite, who among the Manjappada, was popularly known as Ashan, which means instructor or tutor. 

The Serbian’s departure will surely leave a huge void in Kerala Blasters, and the club will have to look at their options, and find someone worthy of filling his shoes. 

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