Manolo Marquez lays the foundation for new spell as India national team coach

Manolo Marquez has been presented as the new India national team head coach ahead of the new 24-25 season. The former Hyderabad FC manager will juggle national team duty alongside FC Goa for the coming season.

However, he has assured fans of complete professionalism and dedication. Marquez’s first matches in charge will be in a familiar location, Hyderabad, where he spent three seasons after first arriving in India. He will lead the Blue Tigers in the tri-nation tournament in September.

Manolo Marquez speaks upon being presented as new India head coach

Manolo Marquez 🗣️ : “When you arrive at new place, you are excited about the challenge. I feel players will improve their level. Now we need to work to arrive in best condition as possible to qualify for Asian Cup.” [PTI] #90ndstoppage | #IndianFootballpic.twitter.com/RhqW8gD6bp

— 90ndstoppage (@90ndstoppage) August 11, 2024

“First of all, I’m very grateful and I want to say a big thank you to the AIFF for the confidence it has in me. This is my fifth season in India and if you tell me five years ago that I will spend five years in India, maybe I would think that it was crazy. India is my country after Spain. It is the foreign country I’ve spent the most time in,” said Márquez.

“For a long time, I was thinking that maybe one day I would like to coach the national team and I’m here now. I am very happy and it is a dream for me to be the national team coach of India.”

He also urged Indian players to try and move abroad. According to the 55-year-old, the players in India are very comfortable and their new surroundings coupled with a higher level of competition would help them improve their quality faster.