Manolo Marquez has been named as the new head of India’s national football team, the AIFF announced on Saturday. The Spaniard will take over the coaching baton from Igor Stimac, who coached the Blue Tigers for more than five years.

Meanwhile, Marquez has all the experience of coaching in the Indian Super League as he has coached in more than 100 games. The veteran led Hyderabad FC to glory in the ISL in the 2022 season when the Nizams defeated Kerala Blasters on penalties.

Last year, Marquez was in charge of FC Goa and the Gaurs finished the league stage at the third spot, winning 13 out of their 22 matches.

Marquez will bring a lot of experience to the table and he will look to get the best out of the young players.

Commenting on the development, AIFF President Mr Kalyan Chaubey stated, “We are delighted to welcome Mr Marquez to this important role and are also thankful to FC Goa for their generosity of releasing him for national duty. We look forward to working with Mr. Marquez in the years ahead. The AIFF, FC Goa, and Mr. Marquez will collaborate closely to ensure there is minimal impact between the two jobs and strive to achieve the best possible results for all involved.”

Responding to the appointment Mr Manolo Marquez said, “It’s an honour for me to be the National Football Team coach of India, a country I consider my second home. India and its people are something I feel attached to and I feel a part of since I first came to this beautiful country. I want to do my best to bring success to the millions of fans we have. I am very grateful to FC Goa for allowing us the flexibility to help the national team during the coming season while I am still the club’s head coach. I’m grateful to the AIFF for this opportunity and we hope to do great things for football.”