Manolo Marquez has been officially appointed as the head coach of the Indian national football team, taking over from Igor Stimac. This follows the Blue Tigers’ failure to advance to the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers. Marquez, who will continue managing FC Goa until May 2025, will transition to a full-time role with the national team after this period.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed Marquez’s appointment on July 20, 2024, choosing him over Spanish candidate Antonio Lopez Habas, a former coach of Mohun Bagan. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey expressed gratitude to FC Goa for accommodating Marquez’s dual responsibilities and highlighted the anticipated productive collaboration.
Marquez, who previously managed Hyderabad FC and has experience with Las Palmas, Espanyol-B, Badalona, Prat, and Europa in Spain, expressed enthusiasm about his new role. He emphasized his deep connection to India and his commitment to the national team’s success. Marquez will also need to address the challenge of finding a new striker to replace the retiring Sunil Chhetri.
