Manolo Marquez, a highly successful coach in Indian football, has been appointed as the new head coach for Mumbai City FC on a one-year contract for the 2026-2027 season. Marquez brings a wealth of experience, including leading Hyderabad FC to an ISL Cup title and coaching the Indian national team.
Spanish football coach Manolo Marquez has criticised the expansion of the FIFA World Cup, arguing it compromises quality and that countries like India should prioritise grassroots development over relying on increased qualification slots. He also highlighted the impact of naturalised players on international competition, citing his experience with the Indian team.
'I know it's a pressure on the boys that it has been one year, but soon we will win a game. Don't worry, we are on the right track.'
Mumbai City FC has announced the signing of Serbian defender Lazar Cirkovic on a one-year deal for the 2026-27 Indian Super League season. The experienced 34-year-old has previously played for other ISL clubs and brings a wealth of international experience from European leagues.
Churchill Brothers, a dominant force in Indian football in the 90s, are making their Indian Super League debut against Mumbai City FC. Head coach Dimitris Dimitriou aims to establish a distinct football culture and competitive style of play for the club, despite a fast-forward pre-season.
Spaniard Manolo Marquez is the head coach of ISL team Indian Super League side FC Goa.
India football head coach Manolo Marquez stepped down on Wednesday after reaching a 'mutual agreement' with the All Indian Football Federation.
'I prefer not to speak before the Hong Kong tie,' Marquez told Hindustan Times in a WhatsApp message on Monday.
Gurkirat Singh scored a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser against his former club to help Punjab FC secure a 1-1 draw against Mumbai City FC in their Indian Super League match. Leandro Otormin had put Mumbai City ahead from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, but Punjab fought back to earn a crucial point at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Churchill Brothers are set to begin their new Indian Super League campaign against Mumbai City FC on Sunday. Head Coach Dimitris Dimitriou aims to establish a distinct footballing identity, while the team returns to the ISL after a season away, following a turbulent period in Indian football.
AIFF opens application process for new men's head coach position after Marquez's exit
'But sometimes the team doesn't know how to draw. And today, if you couldn't win the game before the minute 90-91, at least try to be in a position to avoid the defeat. But I feel that India is still in the fight.'
'We need to be aware that we have a difficult game in Hong Kong. We have time to prepare, to be competitive and try to win and get the three points.'
Both teams showed urgency to find the winner but were denied, with Malaysia coming close just before the final whistle.
All eyes on Chhetri as India face Maldives in friendly ahead of Asian Cup qualifier.
Head coach Manolo Marquez will seek his first win with Team India in an international friendly against Vietnam in Nahm Din, Vietnam on Saturday which was originally planned as a Tri-Nation tournament before Lebanon's withdrawal.
NorthEast United FC stunned reigning champions FC Goa 2-1 in their final Group B match of the Super Cup, in Fatroda, on Saturday.
Jamshedpur FC secured a 2-0 victory against FC Goa in the Indian Super League, with late goals from Mohammed Sanand and Madih Talal propelling them to the top of the standings.
Former India football coach Stephen Constantine has expressed deep disappointment over the national team's current decline, criticising the All India Football Federation for its decisions, including the appointment of Khalid Jamil as coach despite his lack of international experience. Constantine, who led India to a historic FIFA ranking of 96, believes he should still be managing the team and calls for wider structural reforms in Indian football.
Though the 41-year-old scored against Maldives in an international friendly, the country's all-time highest goal-scorer failed to find the back of the net in subsequent competitive fixtures for the Blue Tigers.
Indian club FC Goa will have their task cut out as they look to carry their domestic form into the international arena when they face Saudi giants Al Nassr in a vital AFC Champions League Two Group D fixture, in Riyadh, on Wednesday.
With Fatorda buzzing and continental football back where it belongs, the Gaurs will hope to make a statement and prove they belong among Asia's elite.
Jamil will succeed Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who parted ways with the AIFF last month following India's recent struggles.
The Blue Tigers held their first training session in Vietnam on Monday evening at the Nam Dinh Sports Palace Ground and will have four more full sessions before taking on the hosts on Saturday.
The technical committee of the AIFF, headed by former captain IM Vijayan, will meet on Wednesday to shortlist the candidates for the appointment of the head coach of the senior men's national team after the federation received 170 applications for the vacant post.
Kalyan Chaubey alluded to lack of goals from the Indian strikers, which he said could be one of the reasons for the poor show by the team under Manolo Marquez.
Indian men's football team drops six places to 133rd in FIFA rankings, worst in nine years
India play out 1-1 draw with Vietnam in international football friendly
The match simmered, waiting for a spark, until Al Zawraa found it on the cusp of half-time. Hassan Abdulkareem's clever ball found Kadhim Raad, who cut back for Reziq Banihani. A messy deflection, a ricochet off Nim Dorjee Tamang, and the ball nestled cruelly into Goa's net.
'Indian football needs to work together and move in the same direction.' 'Only then will the competition in India improve, and the Indian national team will improve.'
Tuesday's match holds importance for India as any slip-up could be disastrous in their bid to make it to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
The camp is aimed at helping the Blue Tigers prepare for their two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers final round in Group C, where they will play two back-to-back matches against Singapore on October 9 at the National Stadium and on October 14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa.
Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo may be missing from action, but that will hardly make things easier for FC Goa, who face an uphill task against Saudi Arabian giants Al Nassr in their third Group A fixture of the AFC Champions League Two, in Margao, on Wednesday.
Bhutia and Chaubey have shared a history of verbal spats, with the former frequently questioning Chaubey's leadership, even calling the AIFF a "circus"
Jamil's first assignment in his new role will be the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup, to be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan starting August 29.
First win for India since Nov 2023 and first under coach Manolo Marquez.
A 19-year-old student from Vellore Institute of Technology said he sent the prank mail posing as Spain and Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez, applying for the head coach position of the Indian football team.
Talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri has been left out of the 35 probables named by newly-appointed Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Sunil Chhetri returns to the national team,
The AIFF said Jamil has signed the contract after parting ways with ISL team Jamshedpur FC.
