FC Goa have managed to pull off the biggest swoop in Indian football at the moment as the Indian Super League (Hero ISL) club has reportedly agreed a deal to appoint Hyderabad FC's head coach Manolo Marquez Roca to be their head coach starting from the Indian football 2023-2024 season.
The Hyderabad FC's Spanish tactician Manolo Marquez is one of the most in-demand coach in the Indian football scenes. After the success and the style of play he has brought into the Hyderabad FC team, almost all of the clubs playing in the Indian Super League (ISL) wants him to lead their project.
Hero ISL News: FC Goa wins race to sign Hyderabad FC coach Manolo Marquez to be their Head Coach
But according to reports on The Bridge, the Goa based ISL club FC Goa have acted fast enough and have managed to get a deal in place to have Manolo Marquez as the club's head coach for the next season. The report further states that he has agreed on a one year deal with Goan side.
Manolo Marquez has made a name for himself after taking charge of Hyderabad FC in their 2nd itself and turned their fortunes around in his fast season after their horror first season.
Manolo Marquez was a recommendation from Albert Roca, who was initially set to join Hyderabad FC as their head coach, but came the call from the Spanish giants FC Barcelona so he couldn't join the team. However, before joining Barcelona, he suggested Manolo Marquez's name. And so far, it has turned out to be a great decision.
In his first in charge of the Hyderabad based team, he took close to the playoffs until missing out on it on the last day of the league stage. The next season, the team was in prolific form as they went on to win the Indian Super League Trophy in 2021-2022 season beating Kerala Blasters in the final.
This season too, i.e. Hero ISL 2022-2023 season, Hyderabad FC kept the pressure on Mumbai City FC for the League Shield despite the latter were having a dream run. In the end, Hyderabad FC finished 2nd and lost to ATK Mohun Bagan in the penalty shootout in the Hero ISL 2022-2023 Semi-Finals.
Manolo Marquez has gained the reputation from the Indian football fans for the work he has done with a low budget team and the youngsters he has groomed. The likes of Akash Mishra, Asish Rai, Liston Colaco, Mohammed Yasir, Nikhil Poojary etc.
Marquez had already indicated that despite Hyderabad FC wanting him to stay with the club, he has received offers from number of Hero ISL clubs and that he is considering the offers. If the reports are true, Manolo Marquez will be last in charge of the Hyderabad based side in the Hero Super Cup 2023.
FC Goa season Hero ISL 2022-2023
As for FC Goa, after winning the League Winners Shield under the guidance of Sergio Lobera in the 2019-2020 season, things haven't gone well for them. They signed Juan Ferrando to replace him. And after one great season, his struggled the next season and Ferrando was poached away by ATK Mohun Bagan mid-season. This season, they brought in a former FC Goa player and captain Carlos Pena to be their head coach.
However, Goa didn't have a good season and they finished 7th in the points table, a couple of points below the Hero ISL Playoffs position. There was always a concern among the Goa fans that the team is not as good as it was under Lobera and many player are also even considering leaving the team. The management though would be hoping that Manolo Marquez will bring the same fortune to Goa as Hyderabad FC.
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