For the first time in the club's history, Indian football giants East Bengal appointed a foreign coach.

Phillip de Rider from Belgium took over as head coach of the club on a two-year contract on Thursday.

His appointment follows the dismissal of Subhas Bhowmick, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation sleuths for allegedly accepting a bribe in the course of his duties in the anti-evasion department of the Central Excise.

Club secretary Kalyan Majumdar said, "We are happy to have Rider as our coach. He is much decorated and will, hopefully, bring a change in the club's fortunes."

The contract has a termination clause on either side.

Rider said, "I am happy to be here and will try to do my best. Everywhere in the world a coach's job is at stake if he losses consecutive games. I will try not to face such a situation."