Bengaluru FC, on Wednesday, announced that the club has reached an agreement with head coach Carles Cuadrat to further the Spaniard’s stay with the side till the end of the 2020-21 season.

Having joined Bengaluru in 2016 as an assistant to former head coach Albert Roca, the 50-year-old got the opportunity to step up after his mentor parted ways with the club at the end of the 2017-18 season. Despite it being his first-ever season as a head coach of any team, Cuadrat repaid the faith the club management showed in him by guiding the team to the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) 2018-19 title.

Under the former La Masia coach, Bengaluru also became the first team in Hero ISL history to win the title after finishing top of the table during the league phase. The Blues also remained unbeaten at home through the season.

"I am delighted to continue my stay at a club that functions like a closely-knit family. I have spent three years at Bengaluru FC and the fact that I’m willing to add two more, is a testament to how happy I am at the club and in the city. We achieved success last season and I would like to build on it. Importantly, we will be competing in Asia again and that’s a challenge we are all relishing. All footballing reasons aside, the love and support the fans have shown me definitely had a part to play in my decision of signing on a new deal," Cuadrat told the official Bengaluru FC website after putting pen to paper.

Speaking on the deal, club CEO, Parth Jindal said, "After winning the Hero Indian Super League last season and getting the team to perform the way it did, Carles attracted attention from a host of clubs in the country and even the continent, who wanted to secure his services. However, the fact that he has chosen to stay with Bengaluru FC is a fantastic testament to his belief in the project of this club and country, which is to put Indian football on the world map. He’s turned down lucrative deals to stay with us, and that is a very encouraging sign. Given his La Masia background, he has been the perfect mentor for the young Indian players and that is an important aspect for us at Bengaluru FC. I am certain we will enjoy more success with Carles at the helm."

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2018-2019