Hero Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Mohun Bagan Super Giant have announced the appointment of former head coach Antonio Lopez Habas as their new Technical Director, on Friday.

Habas returns to India, having previously managed ATK Mohun Bagan during the Hero ISL 2021-22 season.

"Along with making a powerful first-team side, Mohun Bagan Super Giant wants to stress on youth development with the aim of producing first-team players from the various age-group sides. Habas will be in charge of technical instructions for all the sides. The development side is currently training for the Calcutta League," the club said in a statement.

The Spaniard is the first head coach to win two Hero ISL titles. He began his journey with Atletico de Kolkata during the 2014 Hero ISL edition and became the first head coach to win the Hero ISL title. Habas had a stint with FC Pune City later on before returning to India to join ATK FC, leading them to the Hero ISL title during the 2019-20 season.

He took charge of ATK Mohun Bagan the following season and guided them to the Hero ISL final that campaign. He parted ways with the Mariners midway during the Hero ISL 2021-22 season.

Jamshedpur FC sign Steven Dias as head coach for the Jamshedpur FC reserve team

Jamshedpur FC have signed Steven Dias as the head Coach for the Jamshedpur FC reserve team. Dias returns to Jamshedpur FC after a successful coaching stint as head coach with Ambernath United Atlanta FC.

Under Dias, Ambernath United reached the final round of the Hero I-League Second Division this year, only narrowly missing out on becoming Champions of the I-League Second Division where they needed just a draw against Delhi FC. He led the club to successive undefeated Mumbai FA Elite Division titles in 2022 and 2023 as well as back to back Mumbai Women’s League titles. He was also the Head Coach of the Maharashtra Santosh Trophy team, leading them to the final round and scoring the most goals in the 2022-23 season.

Prior to this stint, Dias was an assistant coach at Odisha FC, and now rejoins the club he departed at the end of the 2019-20 season, where he worked as the Indian assistant coach for the Jamshedpur FC senior team.

“I’m very happy to be back with Jamshedpur FC,” Steven Dias said. “I was here in the 2019-20 season as an Assistant Coach and I can proudly say that this is one of the best setups that I have seen for young players in all of India.

“I want to provide as many players as possible for the first team in the Hero ISL. I’m very excited to train the young players and I’m here to win.”

Dias enjoyed a glittering playing career that saw him ply his trade at top clubs such as Air India, Mahindra United, Mumbai FC, Bharat FC and even in the Hero ISL with Delhi Dynamos in 2014. The 39-year-old represented India 51 times between 2004 and 2011, scoring seven goals for the Blue Tigers and even captaining the National Team during a glorious career that saw him lift the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 and play in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Jamshedpur FC CEO, Mukul Choudhari also shared his excitement at having Dias back at the club.

He said: “Steven (Dias) is undoubtedly a big name that we are signing once again.His achievements with Ambernath United in particular are fantastic and we want him to show the same ethic with the Jamshedpur FC Reserves.

“He has represented India numerous times and is a legend as a player. His managerial skills and experiences of playing at the elite stage of club professional football as well as the Indian National team are ideal as those will percolate into our youth teams to enhance their technical ability as well as mentality to perform at the top of professional football. We welcome him on board and wish him the very best.”

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2022-2023Jamshedpur FC Steven Dias