Top 5 coaches who could replace Steve Coppell at Jamshedpur FC

Some of the names in this list have already come up in recent reports.

Since the departure of Steve Coppell after the conclusion of last season, Jamshedpur FC have turned a keen eye to acquiring a new head coach for the upcoming campaign. Jamshedpur FC, who finished in fifth place showed promising performances last season under Coppell's mentorship, but now find themselves in a void without a head coach. The Englishman did wonders with the young side last term and a with a coach of similar calibre, the team can definitely up their game this time around.

We take a look at five such coaches who could replace Coppell at the Men of Steel.

5. Gianluca Zambrotta

The Italian is the current assistant coach of Chinese Super League (CSL) side Jiangsu Suning. The full-back was part of Italy's 2006 World Cup winning squad and has played his club career at major clubs like Juventus, Barcelona and Milan. Zambrotta is not a new face in Indian football as he has previously coached Delhi Dynamos in the 2016-17 season. The Italian led the Delhi franchise to a top four finish, but they lost to Kerala Blasters in the semis. 

4. Jose Francisco Molina

Just like Zambrotta, Molina is a not a new name in the ISL circuit either. The Spanish coach won the title in his first season with the then Atletico De Kolkata (currently ATK). Molina spent his entire playing career in La Liga and has played 189 games for league giants Atletico Madrid.

The 47-year-old has managed Villarreal and their youth teams before tasting success in the ISL. Jamshedpur could shape up really well under the former ATK coach at their helm and even rise to lift their first ever ISL title next year. 

3. Nelo Vingada

Widely known as the Professor, the 65-year-old has vast coaching experience under his belt. Vingada has managed over 20 teams in his 35-year-long managerial career. The Portuguese has also managed the Portugal senior team from 1993-1994.

Vingada managed NorthEast United in the 2016-17 season of the ISL and took them inches close to grabbing the semi-final spot. It is safe to say that if the move happens, it will be a purely positive one for the newcomers and they will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming season. 

Vingada is without a job since last year when he parted ways with the Malaysian National Team and can become the ideal candidate to take over the mantle at Jamshedpur.

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2. Ashley Westwood

Ashley Westwood was the interim manager of ATK after the midway sack of head coach Teddy Sheringham last season. While the Kolkata side has roped in Coppell as their new head coach for the next season and the contract of Westwood has run out with the Kolkata outfit, he could prove to be a valuable asset for the Jamshedpur side.

Westwood has an impressive managerial record in Indian football, having managed Bengaluru FC for three seasons and helping them to win the I-League twice. This move would be a smart one for the Men of Steel, who look to be preferring prior experience in Indian football in terms of recruiting.

1. Antonio Habas

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The former ATK and FC Pune City coach is the frontrunner in the race to become the new coach of Jamshedpur FC. The Spanish coach has won the ISL title with ATK in the inaugural season of the tournament.

However, Habas received some serious criticism about his tactics and use of players during his stint with FC Pune City, but his ability to understand and experience of being in Indian conditions and with Indianplayers makes him the ideal candidate for the coaching role at Jamshedpur.