On Saturday, July 20, 2024, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Executive Committee held a pivotal meeting at the Football House in New Delhi. A key highlight of the meeting was the appointment of Manolo Marquez as the new head coach for the Senior Men’s National Team. The session, led by AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey, saw significant decisions being made regarding the future of Indian football.
The meeting was attended by AIFF Vice President Mr. N.A. Haris, Treasurer Mr. Kipa Ajay, and members Ms. Thongam Tababi Devi, Ms. Valanka Natasha Alemao, Ms. Pinky Bompal Magar, Mr. Menla Ethenpa, Mr. Vijay Bali, Mr. Syed Husnain Ali Naqvi, Mr. Neibou Sekhose, Mr. Maloji Raje Chhatrapati, Mr. Mohan Lal, Mr. Syed Imtiaz Husain, Mr. Arif Ali, Mr. Bhaichung Bhutia, Mr. Shabbir Ali, Mr. Climax Lawrence, and Acting Secretary General Mr. M. Satyanarayan.
Special invitees included Mr. Ajit Banerjee, President of the Indian Football Association (West Bengal), Mr. Caitano Fernandes, President of the Goa Football Association, Mr. Mulrajsinh Chudasama, Secretary of the Gujarat State Football Association, Mr. Anuj Gupta, President of Football Delhi, and Mr. Rochak Langer, COO of the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL).
Appointment of Manolo Marquez as Head Coach
A key highlight of the meeting was the appointment of Manolo Marquez as the new head coach for the Senior Men’s National Team. Marquez, who will continue to serve as the head coach for FC Goa during the 2024-25 season, is expected to transition to the national role full-time thereafter.
AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Marquez to this important role and are also thankful to FC Goa for their generosity in releasing him for national duty. We look forward to working closely with Mr. Marquez to achieve the best possible results for both the national team and FC Goa.”
Manolo Marquez, 55, brings extensive experience and knowledge of Indian football, having coached in the country since 2020. His tenure includes successful stints with Hyderabad FC and FC Goa, including leading Hyderabad FC to an ISL Cup victory in the 2021-22 season. Marquez’s coaching career also spans several clubs in Spain, including Las Palmas, Espanyol B, Badalona, Prat, and Europa.
Commenting on his new role, Marquez said, “It’s an honour for me to be the National Football Team coach of India, a country I consider my second home. I am committed to bringing success to our millions of fans and grateful to both FC Goa and All India Football Federation for this opportunity.”
Anilkumar Prabhakaran Appointed as Secretary General
In other developments, the AIFF Executive Committee, following the recommendation of President Shri Kalyan Chaubey, appointed Mr. Anilkumar Prabhakaran as the new Secretary General of the AIFF. Mr. Anilkumar resigned from his positions on the AIFF Executive Committee and other sub-committees to assume this new role, which will commence following the completion of necessary internal protocols and induction procedures as stipulated by the AIFF Constitution.
These strategic decisions reflect AIFF’s commitment to strengthening Indian football by leveraging experienced leadership and fostering collaboration between clubs and the national team.
