Top 10 iconic coaches of all-time in I-League history

Armando Colaco will go down as the greatest manager in I-League history

The National Football League was rebranded as the I-League in 2007. While it was initially the top league in Indian football, the I-League has now been demoted to the second-tier competition behind the Indian Super League (ISL) since 2020-21.

In the last 17 years, there have been quite a few legendary managers who assembled and led I-League sides to the title. Here are ten iconic I-League coaches who have written their chapters in the history books of Indian football.

10) Kibu Vicuna

The 2019-20 season was the last time East Bengal and Mohun Bagan played in the league. The season was partially canceled after just 16 games. However, Kibu Vicuna’s Mohun Bagan were deserving champions as they had 39 points, boasting a 16-point lead over East Bengal after 16 I-League games.

9) Akbar Nawas

The now-defunct Chennai City FC were struggling in the I-League since joining in 2016. However, signing Akbar Nawas as their new manager in 2018 changed the club’s fortunes.

Under their new manager, CCFC beat East Bengal for the league title, winning the trophy by just one point. The Southern club though were not able to sustain itself in the following years and were eventually dissolved in the early 2020s.

8) Vincenzo Alberto Annese

The young Italian manager is highly cherished for his coaching style and is undoubtedly one of the greatest managers in Indian football. Vincenzo Annese took over the reins of Gokulam Kerala in 2020 and instantly brought in success helping his side to win the 2020-21 and 2021-22 I-League titles.

To this day, Gokulam Kerala remain the only club to have won the league title in back-to-back seasons.

7) Khalid Jamil

The 2016-17 I-League season was the last time when all of India’s best players played in the competition. In that season, Khalid Jamil’s Aizawl FC won the league over Mohun Bagan by just one point scripting a fairytale run for the ages.

Aizawl’s dream run was the first time that a club from Northeast India had won a national title. Khalid has also managed Mumbai FC, East Bengal, and Mohun Bagan in the league.

6) Mariano Dias

Managing Churchill Brothers between 2012 and 2014, Mariano Dias scripted history by helping his side win the 2012-13 I-League title. The Red Machines further won the 2013-14 Federation Cup also under Mariano before the manager moved on to FC Goa as their head of youth development.

5) Sanjoy Sen

Since the formation of the I-League, Mohun Bagan had not picked up a title. However, Sanjoy Sen turned out to be the man who wrote history for the Mariners. Under Sanjoy, the Green and Maroon Brigade won the 2014-15 I-League title by just two points, piping Bengaluru FC to get their hands on silverware.

Under their Bengali coach, Mohun Bagan finished runners-up in the next two I-League seasons and also won the Federation Cup in 2015-16.

4) Karim Bencherifa

The Moroccan football manager is highly regarded within Indian football as he has managed multiple clubs. Karim Bencherifa’s best moment in Indian football came in the 2010-11 season as he helped Salgaocar FC to win the I-League title. The Goan side also won the Federation Cup title in 2011 completing the National double.

3) Zoran Dordevic

The Churchill Brothers SC manager became the first foreign manager to win the I-League. Zoran Dordevic guided the Red Machine to the league title in the 2008-09 season. The Serbian manager also became the first foreign coach to receive the Best Coach of the Year award in India.

2) Ashley Westwood

The Englishman will go down in history as the first-ever manager of Bengaluru FC. Regarded as a legend within the South Indian club, Ashley Westwood helped the Blues win the 2013-14 I League title in their very first season. The BFC manager then again won the league in the 2015-16 season.

1) Armando Colaco

The Goan manager is without a doubt one of the most iconic coaches in Indian football. Armando Colaco helped Dempo to three I-League titles in 2007-09, 2009-10, and 2011-12. He is the manager with the most I-League titles to his name and also the first-ever manager to win the I-League title in history.

Having managed Dempo for 13 years, Colaco also won the National Football League twice and also helped the Goan club to the semi-finals of the AFC Cup.

Honorable Mentions: Big names such as Eelco Schattorie and Trevor James Morgan have also coached in the I-League. However, they have not won the league title.

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.