Veteran Spanish coach Antonio Lopez Habas appears set to bring his stint with Inter Kashi to an end after nearly two seasons, following growing tensions between the club management and coaching staff over financial instability.
Habas announced his likely departure through a social media post on Sunday, sharing a card that read “End of the chapter: Mission accomplished.” In a strongly worded message, the former Indian Super League-winning coach hinted at a breakdown in trust with the club hierarchy.
“Trust is built through keeping commitments, and unfortunately, when those commitments are not fulfilled, trust is lost,” Habas wrote.
The Spaniard joined Inter Kashi in 2024 and quickly transformed the side into title contenders. Under his guidance, the club lifted the I-League trophy the following season and secured promotion to the Indian Super League, marking a historic achievement for the Uttar Pradesh-based side. With that success, Habas became the only coach to have won both the I-League and the ISL, further strengthening his legacy in Indian football.
However, the club’s ongoing financial troubles appear to have severely damaged the relationship between Habas and the management. Last month, after Inter Kashi suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat to Punjab FC, the coach openly expressed concern about the situation inside the club.
“Inter Kashi is in a very, very complicated situation with a lot of problems in the club … We need to talk about the situation of the players and staff with the owner of the club, because it’s impossible to compete in the ISL,” Habas said during the post-match press conference.
The experienced tactician also raised concerns over delayed salaries and uncertainty surrounding the future of both players and staff.
“I am very, very sad about this situation. We have been fighting since the last season 100 per cent, and now it’s possible that the players and staff will not receive their salaries. It’s impossible,” he added.
Before joining Inter Kashi, Habas enjoyed enormous success in Indian football. He guided Atletico de Kolkata to the inaugural ISL title and later led Mohun Bagan Super Giant to the League Winners’ Shield in 2024.
Reflecting on his tenure at Inter Kashi, Habas thanked his players and staff for their commitment and professionalism throughout the journey.
“Together, we achieved the objectives set by the management: winning the I-League, earning promotion to the ISL, and ensuring the club remains in the top tier of professional football in India,” he said.
Inter Kashi is scheduled to face Habas’ former club Mohun Bagan on Tuesday. Whether the Spaniard will remain in the dugout for the fixture and the remaining three games of the shortened ISL campaign remains uncertain.
