ISL 2021-22: SC East Bengal on Saturday announced the appointment of Mario Rivera as their head coach for the remainder of the 2021-22 Indian Super League season. The club parted ways with Jose Manuel Diaz last month and Renedy Singh took over as interim head coach. Follow ISL Live updates on InsideSport.IN
🚨𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓🚨
We would like to announce the appointment of Mario Rivera as the head coach for the remainder of the 2021-22 Hero Indian Super League season.
For more, read: https://t.co/qumwRU0Pb6#WelcomeMario #WeAreSCEB #JoyEastBengal pic.twitter.com/8O2k2r81R2
— SC East Bengal (@sc_eastbengal) January 1, 2022
For Rivera, it is a homecoming of sort as he had guided East Bengal to a second-place finish in the I-League two seasons back. He was assistant to former East Bengal coach Alejandro Menendez for 32 games in 2018-19 I-League season before he was asked to take over the reins. Spaniard Rivera is a UEFA Pro Licence holder.
Also read: ISL 2021-22: Nerijus Valskis returns to Chennaiyin FC for rest of season
When Mario Rivera took charge of East Bengal, the Red and Golds were languishing at the bottom of the table. Mario helped in the resurgence of the team and they finished second behind arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in the 2019-20 I-League season.
“We are happy to appoint him as our head coach. Mario has been part of East Bengal previously and his experience in Indian football will be beneficial to the team for the rest of the season,” said SC East Bengal CEO Col. Shivaji Samaddar.
Rivera will undergo the mandatory quarantine period as per ISL and will take over thereafter.
Jose Manuel Diaz was sacked following a string of poor shows. Diaz was shown the door on Tuesday, midway into the season, after the club’s eight-match winless streak — four losses and four draws — and former India international Renedy Singh was given charge as interim coach.
SC East Bengal will take on Bengaluru FC at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim on Tuesday. Under Diaz, SC East Bengal remain at the bottom of the 11-team ISL table with just four points.
