“Dream come true” — that’s how Manolo Marquez described the moment he was appointed head coach of the Indian national football team in 2024. Now at the helm of the Blue Tigers, the Spaniard is determined to guide the nation toward qualification for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 in Saudi Arabia, promising that his side will leave no stone unturned in their pursuit.

A familiar face in Indian football, Marquez is well known among Indian Super League (ISL) fans. Since arriving in 2020, he has enjoyed successful stints with Hyderabad FC and FC Goa. His time with Hyderabad FC was particularly notable, having led the club to their first ISL Cup triumph in the 2021-22 season.

In 2025, he added another feather to his cap by guiding FC Goa to the Kalinga Super Cup title and has guided them to the playoffs in both of his seasons with the Gaurs. Over the course of 116 ISL matches, Marquez has registered 60 wins, finishing with an impressive win rate of 51.27%.

In a recent episode of In the Stands, hosted by Suyash Upadhyaya, Marquez reflected on his early days with the national team, their objectives in the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, and more.

On coaching Indian team and player selection process

Marquez has consistently showcased his tactical acumen during his time in the ISL, enjoying a fruitful spell in the league. Taking charge of the Blue Tigers was a moment of immense pride for the Spaniard, who expressed his delight at the opportunity to lead a nation in its quest for glory.

“After some years in India, I feel very good in the country. I trained with a lot of good players, good Indian players, not only young players but players with experience as well. It was fantastic that they chose me as a national team coach. It was great news for me,” he said.

The India head coach stressed the importance of preparing to face every opponent at their absolute best. He noted that his core strategies remain largely unchanged whether he's managing a club or the national team. Instead, his approach centres on closely analysing the opposition to outplay them and secure a positive result.

“This aspect doesn't change my approach in the club or in the national team. One thing that when we speak about the opponent is that we need to expect the best version of the opponent,” he shared.

“If they play worse, better. But at least you know what they can do or what they cannot do, and their strengths and weaknesses,” he added.

Marquez revealed that performance is the only merit on which players earn their national team call-up. He urged the players to give their all every time they took to the pitch, deliver consistent performances, and keep working on carrying forward the positive momentum.

“When I try to choose the players, it's a mix. The players who are with good performance in ISL, especially in ISL, because it's the strongest competition (league), and you have to show your qualities in front of a stronger opposition,” he remarked.

“But in some moments, you call someone who maybe is not in the best moment, but you know that will be important in the game or that you can imagine how the next game will go. Sometimes I understand, for example, that maybe there is one player who is in a better moment than the other, but I still call the other one. Or even, for example, I now called Udanta (Singh) because with only three days, I need to call one guy who knows perfectly what I want. And sometimes, or most of the time, there are different reasons,” he continued.

The AFC Asian Cup goal

India went through a rough patch in the AFC Asian Cup 2023, where they finished the campaign without a point. Having been placed in Group B alongside Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria, they lost all three matches and moreover couldn’t score a goal in any of these three matches.

The Blue Tigers had also experienced a rocky start in their quest to qualify for the continental tournament. Despite playing out a goalless draw with Bangladesh in the opening AFC Asian Cup qualifiers third round opening fixture, Marquez has his eyes fixed on leading the team across the line and qualifying for the next round.

“For me, it's very important, but it's not the most important. Obviously, we are here to qualify. Obviously, that is important, and we want to qualify. We will do everything to arrive in Saudi in 2027. But, the most important thing is to work with the generations that will arrive in the future,” the head coach stated.

Marquez also shared his thoughts on strengthening the footballing structure in India and nurturing young talent who can serve the national team in the future. He emphasised the importance of developing a sustainable core within the age-group teams and providing them with the right support to enhance their performance over time.

“We are the national team, and we need results as soon as possible. I even say sometimes, or several times, that the main team is the least important team at this moment. The most important thing is to start in the grassroots, under-17s, and under-20s, and build something for the future,” he shared.

“These guys are good in Indian football, but the thing is that we need to build from the grassroots. The most important thing is to work with the generations that will arrive in the future,” he further added.

The Sandesh Jhingan Impact!

Marquez showered praise on seasoned defender Sandesh Jhingan, who has been a defensive pillar for both his country and club FC Goa.

Despite missing a couple of games earlier during the 2024-25 season, Jhingan made a roaring comeback in the ISL with the Gaurs, and his impact was unparalleled. The Indian international featured in 20 ISL games this season, where FC Goa committed zero errors leading to goals in 19 of them.

The Spaniard underscored the importance of having such a player with vast experience and sheer leadership quality and believed that the veteran defender has been proving his worth time and again and has turned him into an integral part of the national team setup.

“He (Jhingan) is a top professional. He is a top person. He is incredible. When he suffered the ACL injury in the AFC Asian Cup with the national team, he was working every day. He is a very good professional, a very good leader,” he said.