Troubled India football national team head coach Manolo Marquez resigned on Wednesday following a “mutual agreement” with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which was under pressure to rectify accountability for the recent slide of the national team.
AIFF Releases Manolo Marquez Following Committee Meeting
The AIFF Executive Committee, during its meeting, decided to release the 56-year-old Marquez after he had indicated that he wanted to resign notwithstanding a year remaining in his contract
“The AIFF and Manolo decided to mutually part ways without any financial implications to any of the two parties. So, he is relieved from being India coach. The AIFF will shortly advertise for the post of head coach,” AIFF Deputy Secretary General K Satyanarayana told PTI.
The Spaniard took over as head coach in June 2024 on a two-year contract. He performed a dual role last season when he was also the head coach of Indian Super League club FC Goa during the 2024-25 season.
Poor Results and AFC Asian Cup Qualification Struggles
India was defeated 0-1 by lesser-ranked Hong Kong in an away game of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, and that left the nation at risk of failing to qualify for the regional spectacle in 2027, India recorded only a single victory from their past eight games under Marquez’s guidance, and that was against Maldives in March.
India have thus far played four games this year, of which they have won one, drew one, and lost two. Those poor performances saw the recall of veteran skipper and legendary striker Sunil Chhetri to the fold but that has not helped better the team’s fortunes.
India’s next international game is an away game against Singapore in the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers.
Manolo Marquez Wanted to Resign Before Hong Kong Match
Sources had stated that Marquez, who replaced Croatian Igor Stimac, had told the AIFF of his wish to resign some time ago even prior to the June 10 match against Hong Kong — but was unable to do so on his own since he required a consensus with the AIFF.
Marquez is among the longest serving foreign coaches in Indian football, with several Indian clubs having been managed by him. He has won trophies such as the Super Cup and the ISL Cup.
His one-year stint is the shortest among Indian head coaches in a decade Stephen Constantine was India head coach from 2015–2019 before Igor Stimac (2019−2024).
