The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Saturday appointed Indian Super League (ISL) Trophy coach Manolo Marquez as the head coach of the Indian men’s team, succeeding Igor Stimac.

Marquez is currently head coach of ISL club FC Goa, which he joined in 2023. He will continue in his role at the club until 2025, while also taking responsibility for the national team.

“We have always held the good of Indian football in our hearts and have always been avid supporters. And we felt that this was the step we had to take for the sake of the Indian national team. We have always strived to be a club that allows individuals within our organisation to strive for greater heights and this is in line with that ideology,” FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur said in a statement.

Marquez previously spent three seasons with Hyderabad FC, where he won the club’s maiden ISL trophy in 2022. In addition to winning the cup, he led the club to two runner-up finishes in the ISL Shield race.

“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Marquez in this important role and are also grateful to FC Goa for their generosity in releasing him for national duty. We look forward to working with Mr. Marquez in the years to come,” said Kalyan Chaubey, President of the AIFF.

The AIFF, FC Goa and Mr Marquez will work closely together to ensure that the impact between the two courts is minimal and to strive to achieve the best possible outcomes for all involved.”

The AIFF technical committee last month invited candidates for the position after the federation sacked Igor Stimac following the country’s second-round elimination from the World Cup qualifiers.

READ | Marquez: If I were national coach, I would want more time to prepare for major tournaments

Marquez also has a track record of developing young players in the ISL, having played for the national team in recent years.

Mohammed Yasir, Liston Colaco, Akash Mishra, Chinglesana Singh, Nikhil Poojary and Jay Gupta are some of the players who made their debut or returned to the national team with Marquez as their coach in club football.

“It is an honour for me to be the coach of the Indian national football team, a country that I consider my second home. India and its people are something that I feel attached to and have been 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 that we have,” said Marquez.

“I am very grateful to FC Goa for giving us the flexibility to help the national team during the upcoming season while I continue to be the head coach of the club. I am grateful to the AIFF for this opportunity and we hope to do great things for football,” he added.