Former India coach Manolo Marquez returns to FC Goa for 2025/26 season

Marquez resigned from his national role on July 2 after reaching a “mutual agreement” with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) earlier this month after a disastrous stint as the Blue Tigers’ coach. Under him, the Indian team had just one win from their last 8 matches with the victory coming against Maldives back in March. In 2025, they have played 4, lost 2, won 1 and drawn 1. The results were so poor that India had to bring back their iconic striker Sunil Chhetri from his 2024 retirement but that has done little to change their fortunes.

Don Márquez is back! 💪

Our Spanish tactician has renewed his contract with the club for the 2025–26 season. There’s unfinished business and we’re ready to take it on! 🦬

Read the full story on our website: https://t.co/0kYC5QlVEi pic.twitter.com/RuuXTUtVIS

— FC Goa (@FCGoaOfficial) July 18, 2025

This led to the team recording their worst ranking in 9 years when they dropped to 133 in the latest FIFA rankings.

The 56-year-old was appointed as India head coach in June 2024 for a two-year tenure. He worked in a dual role last year, also guiding FC Goa in the 2024-25 ISL season.

“I was very happy during the previous two seasons, where the team showed consistent improvement each year. The level of organisation that the club operates with is not commonly observed in Indian club football, making FC Goa a very special club. It was clear for me that if I were to continue in India, it had to be with FC Goa,” Marquez said.

The Spaniard had signed for goa back in 2023 and has since become the longest serving head coach of the Gaurs, with a campaign spanning 62 matches across all competitions.

Meanwhile, The ISL is currently on “hold” due to the uncertainty over the issue of the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement — to expire on December 8 — between the AIFF and the organisers Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).

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