Manolo Marquez returns to FC Goa after stint with Indian national team
Former Indian men’s national team head coach Manolo Marquez has returned to FC Goa for the 2025-26 season, the Indian Super League (ISL) club announced on Friday.
Marquez returns to lead the Gaurs just weeks after he mutually parted ways with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) which brought his year-long tenure as the Blue Tigers coach to an end.
The Spaniard took over the reigns as India coach on a deal which allowed him to remain FC Goa coach till the end of the 2024-25 season. He led the side to the Super Cup title earlier this year, helping it clinch a spot in the AFC Champions League Two preliminary round.
For his first assignment, Marquez will be leading the club in the preliminary stage of the AFC Champions League 2, against Omani Professional League team, Al-Seeb Club, where FC Goa will play host at Fatorda on the 13th of August.
“It is obviously not a usual pre-season for us. Generally, you get about six to eight weeks of training before you arrive at the first ISL game in good conditions, having played multiple domestic competitions already. We are in a special situation, but a great one for us at the club where we also have the AFC match to look forward to. It will be a difficult game against Al-Seeb, but we are of course ready to play against them and the target will be to be there with our best foot forward,” Marquez said.
Marquez initially signed for the club in 2023 on a two-year deal, and since has become the longest serving head coach of the Gaurs, with a campaign spanning 62 matches across all competitions.
