Not the place for me: Manolo Marquez breaks silence after India exit; hints at deeper issues

Manolo Marquez had a short stint with the Blue Tigers for only 11 months.

Manolo Marquez has finally broken his silence on what he calls the most difficult chapter of his coaching career. The former Indian football team head coach is now set to continue at FC Goa after mutually parting ways with AIFF. His exit, long expected, was confirmed during the AIFF Executive Committee meeting held on July 2, 2025.

In a candid conversation with Spanish publication MARCA, Manolo Marquez revealed he had made the decision to step down as early as April. However, the federation convinced him to stay on until the June window.

“I resigned in April, but they asked me to take the June window. I didn’t want to leave just because of the poor results,” Manolo Marque said. “In fact, they tried to convince me to stay for a month. It seems they’ve now accepted my initial decision “

Also Read: Five biggest issues Indian football team faced under Manolo Marquez

A disappointing run for Manolo Marquez

Despite a year left on his contract, Marquez parted ways after Indian Football Team’s poor run in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. His decision, however, wasn’t solely about results. Instead, he hinted at deeper issues within the system.

“Coaching the Indian national team was the dream of my life,” Manolo Marque admitted. “When you see that all the teams don’t play by the same rules, you feel like this isn’t the place for you,” he explained.

Despite his disappointment, Marquez took responsibility for the team’s performance.

“I recognize that I’ve done things wrong, but if the results had improved, I would probably still be in the position,” he noted.

A turbulent run and dressing room doubts

India failed to win a single competitive match under Marquez since November 2023. Their only win came in a friendly against the Maldives. With four draws and three defeats in eight games, the Blue Tigers also suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Psychological factors also affected the squad.

“Three days before the match against Hong Kong, all the players knew it would be my last game,” Marquez said. “It’s not easy for a player who arrives for three weeks to be in a team where you know the coach is going to leave.”

Dual roles and growing criticism

One of the key criticisms was Marquez’s dual responsibility. For nearly a year, he managed both FC Goa and the national team, which left little time for recovery or planning. Critics also pointed out his squad selections, alleging bias towards FC Goa players.

“The season started badly with the national team and with Goa. I was receiving criticism from all sides,” he admitted. “

A fresh chapter at FC Goa

Despite the criticism, Marquez turned things around at the club level. He led FC Goa to a Super Cup win and a spot in the AFC Champions League 2 qualifiers. FC Goa also finished second in the ISL 2024-25 league standings. Under his guidance, the Gaurs enjoyed a 60% win rate and played an attacking brand of football.

FC Goa are reportedly set to renew their contract with Marquez. He is expected to lead the team in their ACL 2 clash against Al Seeb from Oman. With a strong club record and a point to prove, Marquez could still write a new chapter in Indian football.

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