New Delhi: Spaniard Manolo Marquez is set to replace Igor Stimac as the head coach of the Indian national football team, according to sources. Marquez, who had coached Hyderabad FC and is currently managing FC Goa in the Indian Super League before, was in a three-way race with Antonio Lopez Habas and home-grown Sanjoy Sen to replace Stimac after the Croat was sacked by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) following India’s exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Although nothing has been made official by the AIFF, Marquez will get a three-year contract. Interestingly, he will be coaching both club and country, pending agreement. The 55-year-old has a contract with FC Goa till May 31, 2025. Post that, he will be with the national team on a full-time basis.
The AIFF wanted to hire someone who knows the current scenario of Indian football and Marquez fits the bill. Habas has a better record in Indian football but former Mohun Bagan coach’s age-related issues blew his chances. Marquez too had a good track record in India. He guided Hyderabad FC to ISL Shield title in 2021-22 before taking a multi-year offer at FC Goa.
He guided them to third-place finish in the 2023-24 season. On the other hand, Sen would have been the cheapest option financially but his absence from top level coaching circuit went against him.
Earlier, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said the new head coach of the national team will be picked based on the ability to bring in right results, and a high-profile candidate will not be selected blindly. The incoming head coach will have some important assignments such as a tri-nation tournament in October that also involves hosts Vietnam and Lebanon.
Chaubey said there was an overwhelming response to the advertised position of the head coach of the Indian men’s football team. “We have received a total of 291 applications and we have shortlisted 17 names from them. There are Indian and foreign names. We will have a detailed discussion about them in the Executive Committee meeting,” he noted.
