FC Goa announce the departure of head coach Carlos Pena after a disappointing season

Indian Super League team FC Goa have decided to part ways with their head coach Carlos Pena. The announcement was made public on their social media handles. This decision comes after the Spanish tactician joined last season as the head coach of the Gaurs.

Pena was a fantastic football and his experienced helped FC Goa win many accolades during his tenure as a footballer. But his maiden stint in Goa as a coach was not so fruitful. He had the task of improving the team and taking them back to the promised land of the playoffs. But all he could manage was a seventh-placed finish in the ISL points table.

They played a good brand of football throughout the season but it was mostly their lack of risks approach that piled up the misery. The defensive organization was also all over the place as they conceded 35 times in 20 matches. In total, the Gaurs registered eight wins, three draws and nine losses. They finished the season with 27 points, three points below Odisha FC in sixth place. Therefore they were just a win away from the playoffs.

In the Super Cup, they started their campaign with a heavy 5-3 defeat against Jamshedpur and despite a couple of 1-0 wins against Gokulam Kerala and ATK Mohun Bagan, they finished second in the group and did not qualify for the semifinals.

On his departure, FC Goa Director of Football, Ravi Puskur paid his tribute and showed gratitude towards the staff who came to India along with Pena. “On behalf of everyone at FC Goa, I would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Carlos Pena and his coaching staff, Gorka Azkorra, Joel Dones and Eduard Carrera for the integrity and sincerity with which they went about doing their job,” he stated

He shared that the results on the pitch did not replicate the hard work that the team has done but he did not shy away from paying his appreciation to the coaching staff for their exceptional work in developing the team.

“Unfortunately, the results didn’t accompany the hard work put in behind the scenes but that does not take away from the time and effort they have dedicated towards the development and growth of the team. Their contribution to the club will always be cherished and remembered with fond memories, and we wish them all the best for their future endeavours,” Puskur concluded.

As per rumours, Hyderabad FC head coach Manolo Marquez is linked with the Gaurs. The Spanish tactician guided the Nizams to the ISL title in the 2021-22 season by beating Kerala Blasters in the finals. Even this season, his team were second in the league phase and his experience and prowess in developing young talents, make him the ideal man to help out FC Goa.