Official: Delhi Dynamos announce departure of head coach Miguel Angel Portugal

The Spanish tactician endured a season to forget with the Lions.

Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Delhi Dynamos has parted ways with Head Coach Miguel Angel Portugal by mutual consent, the club announced in an official statement. The 62-year-old coach leaves to join Spanish Segunda Division club Granada CF after only a season with the Delhi side.

Despite a slow start to the ISL Season 4, Portugal rallied back his troops after the turn of the year as the Lions went unbeaten in eight out of the 11 matches played in 2018. However, his stint with the ISL franchise was not positive as the capital side went down in the bottom half of the table and finished in the eighth place in the league. However, under the Spaniard, Dynamos registered themselves as the fourth highest scorers in the tournament, which might be the only positive outcome of Portugal's tenure.

Portugal's destination, Granada is not having a bright season as they are holed up in the eighth position behind Real Zaragoza and Real Oviedo. The Spanish side have played 37 fixtures till now and could only salvage 55 points from their outings.

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According to the statement, the Dynamos and Portugal both agreed that the results overall were not up to the mark this season. The club finished in the bottom half in the league standings and were beaten in the qualifying rounds of the inaugural Hero Super Cup and it was in the best interest of the two parties to go their separate ways.

“I had a very memorable time here in Delhi Dynamos and in the ISL. The Club showed great belief in my abilities this season and even though we didn’t win the trophy, the fans were happy with the way we played football and that makes me happy. I am thankful to all the supporters who showed such love for me and the whole staff the entire season,” Portugal said in his parting statement.

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"Portugal leaves the club in good terms and we would like to wish him luck for his future endeavours,"- read the franchise's official statement.

The side also revealed that the side has started searching for a new head coach.