Who will join Manolo Marquez as support staff in Indian football team?
(Courtesy : AIFF media)
The Spanish coach has signed a three-year contract with AIFF.
On Saturday, 20th of July, All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) announced their decision to appoint Manolo Marquez as the new head coach of the Indian football team, after the departure of Igor Stimac last month.
The Spaniard, who has vast experience of coaching in India serves as the right fit to take on the reins of the national team and resurrect it from the current chaotic state.
Manolo Marquez will continue to coach Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa until the end of the 2024-25 season, along with performing his role at the Indian football team. Upon the completion of his contract with FC Goa at the end of the 2024-25 season, Manolo Marquez will take up a full-time position as the Indian National team’s head coach.
Marquez has also been asked to choose his support staff at the earliest, and several known names have emerged, mainly including the people he entrusts, and has already worked with.
Manolo reportedly will choose Benito Montalvo as his assistant and Jose Carlos Barroso as the strength and conditioning coach, both working with FC Goa at the moment.
ALSO READ: Manolo Marquez: Could he be AIFF’s finest pick in last 20 years?
Benito received training as a coach, analyst and sports director in Barcelona and has also been the head coach of RCD Espanyol Academy Helsinki. He met Manolo during training camps in Finland and Sweden during the Covid-19 pandemic and has been with him since his first season at Hyderabad FC in 2020.
Barroso also has a lot of experience in Indian football and has worked with four different clubs since the 2018-19 season.
Having joined Hyderabad FC ahead of the 2020-21 season as a part of Manolo’s coaching staff, Barroso has ever since been a key cog in the shared success that both he and Manolo have enjoyed so far. Additionally, Mahesh Gawli remains the Indian assistant and is serving his current contract with AIFF.
The only new member of Manolo’s coaching staff, outside Goa, would be goalkeeper’s coach Marc Gamon, who worked for two seasons with the Spaniard at Hyderabad FC before taking up a job in Belgium.
Manolo Marquez with Indian football team.
Manolo will soon encounter his first assignment with the Indian football team in the September international window, where India will play some friendly games.
As per reports in the Times of India, “The AIFF will confirm the teams for the Sept window in the next couple of days but most certainly the two opponents will be from Africa and Oceania,” said a senior official. “Since it’s already late in confirming the teams, they won’t be from the top 100. Most certainly lower ranked than India.”
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
- Is Neymar playing tonight for Al Hilal vs Al Tai in Kings Cup?
- Is Ruben Amorim the right manager to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United?
- How did India perform in SAFF Women's Championship 2024: key highlights & missed opportunities
- Mainz vs Bayern Munich Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds
- Hyderabad FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant lineups, team news, prediction & preview
- ISL 2024-25: Top five Indian players from Matchweek 5
- Which pot will India occupy in AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Round 3 draw?
- Who Is Oscar Bruzon? East Bengal's new head coach
- EA FC 25 title update 3: All you need to know about latest patch
- Indian Sports Calendar October 2024: Major events to look forward to in third week
- Will Oscar Bruzon's knowledge of Bashundhara Kings give East Bengal an edge in AFC Challenge Cup Clash?
- Indian Football Team Player Watch: Aakash, Chhangte & Gurpreet impress; Vikram, Suresh need to improve
- Narendra Modi highlights crazy El Clasico fandom in India
- ISL 2024-25: Alex Saji, Mourtada Fall highlight impenetrable Matchweek 6 Team of the Week defence
- Jose Molina reveals plan on 'how to beat' Hyderabad FC in ISL