NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced the appointment of Manolo Marquez as the new head coach of the Indian men's football team, following the sacking of Igor Stimac. Marquez, a Spanish football manager, will continue to manage FC Goa in the Indian Super League (ISL) for the 2024-25 season, while also taking on the responsibilities of the national team.

“During the 2024-25 season, Mr. Marquez will continue his role as the head coach of first team at FC Goa, handling both responsibilities concurrently before assuming the national coaching role on a full-time basis,” the AIFF stated in a release.

In a statement, Marquez expressed his gratitude to the AIFF for allowing him to concurrently manage FC Goa and the Indian team for the upcoming season.

“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,” Marquez said.

Commenting on Marquez's appointment as head coach, AIFF President Shri 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.”

With experience coaching in India since 2020, Marquez has coached two ISL clubs - Hyderabad FC (2020-23) and FC Goa (2023-present) - and won the ISL Cup with Hyderabad FC in 2021-22. Prior to his Indian stint, Marquez had a extensive coaching career in Spain, managing teams such as Las Palmas, Las Palmas B, Espanyol B, Badalona, Prat, and Europa.

However, Marquez concurrently managing FC Goa and the national team has raised eyebrows among many. Many including former players have voiced their objection to this unusual decision.