After ‘Stimac Out’ chants and numerous defeats from lower-ranking teams, AIFF has finally appointed Manolo Marquez, who is all set to succeed Igor Stimac.
The Spaniard, Manolo Marquez, is not new to Indian football, as the 55-year-old has a fair amount of experience coaching ISL teams such as Hyderabad FC and FC Goa. Born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Marquez retired professionally at the age of 28 after playing for clubs like CE Cerdanyola and Santfeliuenc FC. He started his managerial career with PB Anguera in 2002 and has not looked back since.
Set to Coach India National Football Team After Successful ISL Stint
As mentioned earlier, Marquez is not new to the Indian football circuit. He was the head coach at Hyderabad FC for three years from 2020 to 2023. Under him, in the 2021-22 season, the team won their first ISL title. He then moved to FC Goa, where he also had an impressive stint, leading the team to the semifinals of the ISL 2023-24 season.
It will be interesting to see how he crafts the Indian football team, which is once again facing a ‘winning issue’. A few months back, the team lost to Afghanistan on home soil. Also, in the latest FIFA rankings, the Indian team dropped three spots and is currently ranked 124th.
Manolo Marquez’s Stats as Manager in the ISL
| Teams managed | Matches managed | Win percentage |
| Hyderabad FC | 75 | 48 % |
| FC Goa | 33 | 57.58% |
