“Back in his element”: Manolo Marquez returns to FC Goa following National team let‑go
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga
All India Football Federation (AIFF) Cuts Ties with Manolo Marquez
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After shining in the Indian League with Hyderabad and FC Goa, Manolo Marquez was appointed to the position of head coach of the Indian national team. Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned, as the Blue Tigers managed to win only one game in eight matches.
This sole win would come in a 3-0 victory in a friendly tie against the Maldives. More disappointing for Marquez was his failure to win a competitive game before his time came to an end. Additionally, his team had failed to score a goal in their final three games under the Spanish manager.
After a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2027 campaign, the AIFF announced a mutual decision to part ways. However, many are sure that Marquez would have loved more time to fix things at the team.
Marquez Aims to Improve “Consistent Improvement” at FC Goa
Putting the national team disappointment behind him, Marquez will be looking to build upon the team’s growth in the past two years.
According to Marquez, “I was very happy during the previous two seasons, when the team showed consistent improvement each year. The level of organisation that the club operates with is not commonly observed in Indian club football, making FC Goa a very special club. It was clear to me that if I were to continue in India, it had to be with FC Goa”.
Manolo first landed on the Indian Football scene in 2020, guiding Hyderabad FC to a Super League Title two years later. In his 74 games at Hyderabad FC, he oversaw 37 wins and 21 draws. He then moved on to FC Goa, guiding the team to a Super Cup win
Now, ahead of the new season, Marquez will be hoping to build on the successes of the previous two. After reaching back-to-back semi-finals in the ISL, FC Goa will be aiming for the top title.
The team will also be looking to improve on their wins in the Asian AFC Cup Qualifiers. Manolo’s next game will be a group stage match against Al-Seeb Club on the 13th of August. With this game, the club will look to build positive momentum ahead of its first ISL game of the season.
Already, Manolo has acknowledged that he would be working with several new faces this season. But that will play into one of his strong attributes, which is promoting younger talent while keeping the team competitive enough to challenge for top titles.
Amid excitement around Marquez’s contract extension, all eyes are on the developments around the Indian Super League. With a Master Rights Agreement (MRA) contract yet to be signed, the league has been placed on hold. Until a new contract is signed, uncertainty over the league remains.
