In a surprising turn of events, the reigning ISL champions, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, have decided to shake up their coaching staff as they usher in the new year. The unexpected move involves parting ways with Coach Juan Ferrando and welcoming back the seasoned strategist, Antonio Lopez Habas. This decision comes just a little over two years after the club had initially taken the opposite route.
Antonio Lopez Habas, renowned as the most successful coach in the ISL, boasting two championship titles and a runner-up position, is set to resume his role at the helm. Mohun Bagan Super Giant officially announced this coaching transition, indicating that Habas will assume control of the upcoming Kalinga Super Cup later this month.
Season Swings: Juan Ferrando’s Impact, From Unbeaten Streak to Managerial Transition
After an impressive start to the season with an unbeaten streak of six wins in their first seven games, Mohun Bagan’s momentum took a hit as they faced a slump, losing their next three matches. The downturn in form occurred just before the break for ISL10, coinciding with the Asian Cup.
Under the guidance of Coach Juan Ferrando, who led them to the Durand Cup title this season with a notable 1-0 victory against arch-rivals East Bengal, Mohun Bagan found themselves in the fifth position with 19 points from 10 games. However, they trailed seven points behind the leaders, Kerala Blasters, who had played two more matches.
Despite the domestic success, Mohun Bagan faced challenges in the AFC Cup in consecutive seasons under Ferrando. In the current term, despite boasting one of the most expensive rosters in the second-tier Asian club competition, they fell short of advancing beyond the group stage.
In a bittersweet farewell, the ISL champions expressed gratitude to Juan Ferrando for his contributions. The club acknowledged his role in securing the ISL Cup and the Durand Cup, as they bid farewell to a coach who had been wished a happy 43rd birthday just 18 hours prior on social media.
For the ISL Cup win, for the Durand Cup win, for the numerous memories, thank you Juan!#MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন pic.twitter.com/epkYctazOC
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) January 3, 2024
On December 21, 2021, Juan Ferrando stepped into the coaching shoes at ATK Mohun Bagan, taking over from Antonio Lopez Habas. This transition occurred as Habas activated his buy-out clause at FC Goa, opening the door for Ferrando to helm the team. At that time, when the club was still known as ATK Mohun Bagan, they made a significant investment in Ferrando, reportedly making him one of the ISL’s most expensive coaches by offering a season salary of $200,000.
Habas’ Comeback, Ferrando’s Exit – A Season of Challenges for Mohun Bagan
In the 2021-22 ISL season under Antonio Lopez Habas, Mohun Bagan faced a challenging spell, failing to secure victory in their last four games. This disappointing run occurred in the unique setting of a bubble in Goa. Notably, the team suffered a significant setback with a 1-5 defeat to Mumbai City, marking the club’s most substantial loss in its ten-season history in the ISL.
Habas’s association with the club is notable, marking his third stint with Mohun Bagan. His previous tenures included winning the ISL with ATK in 2014 and 2015, followed by a brief stint with various teams in the competition’s inaugural season, reaching the semi-finals. Upon his return in 2019-20, he clinched his second ISL trophy. Despite staying on as the merged entity of ATK and Mohun Bagan, the team finished as runners-up in the 2020-21 season. Notably, Habas briefly coached the now-defunct FC Pune City in 2016.
Some stories cannot be left incomplete…
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) January 3, 2024
Welcome back, Señor Habas 💚♥️#MBSG #JoyMohunBagan #আমরাসবুজমেরুন pic.twitter.com/G9AITqzQtP
Signs of Juan Ferrando facing pressure surfaced in June, several months after his ISL triumph when Habas was appointed as the technical director. The club, in a press release, emphasized a dual focus on building a formidable first-team side and prioritizing youth development. This move, however, appeared contradictory to Habas’s preference for more foreign players in the ISL.
The decision to replace Ferrando makes him the third coach to be sacked in the ongoing season, following Simon Grayson at Bengaluru FC and Scott Cooper at Jamshedpur FC.
