I’m ready to take on India’s head coach role: Manolo Marquez

India’s newly appointed head coach Manolo Marquez is ready to take on the new role. Marquez will take over the coaching baton from former coach Igor Stimac and the Spaniard will look to take Indian football to new heights.

The 55-year-old has spent four years in India, coaching Indian Super League clubs like Hyderabad FC and FC Goa and he will look to make the most of his experience of working with Indian players.

Marquez has coached ISL 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.

“It is difficult, of course, but India has become like my second country as I’ve spent four years here, something that I have never done before,” Marquez said in an interview with the AIFF media team.

“I think I know most of the important players in the ISL and the I-League, and I signed a player from the Santosh Trophy as well, when I was with Hyderabad FC. I know the traditions, and I’ve got a good feeling about this. Football is unpredictable, but my feeling is that I’m ready to take up this role,” he added.

Before moving to India, Marquez coached in La Liga and La Liga 2, where he was in command of clubs like UD Las Palmas, RCD Espanyol B.

Meanwhile, ISL has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years and Marquez feels the level of the tournament is getting better with every season.

“Well, first and foremost, I feel the league has become bigger than before; we get more matches. When I initially came here, we were playing from within the COVID bubble, so the competition was short. Now we add a new team every year.”

“When I initially arrived, the players were not as consistent. They would play well one season but fade away in the next campaign. Now that most of the players are aware of what they need to do, they are more professional and focused. Be it diet, rest, or training sessions, they follow all the programs with the utmost discipline,” he stated.

“I can generally say that there has been a lot of improvement in the Indian players, though my feeling is that India can improve a thousand times more. But I’d also say that there are plenty of challenges in that regard. India is like 20 countries put together,” he further added.