Manolo Marquez, the newly appointed head coach of the Indian football team, has expressed his readiness to take on the responsibilities of the role. Marquez, who also serves as FC Goa's head coach, was named the national team head coach following Igor Stimac’s departure in June.

The Spaniard arrived in India in 2020 to join Hyderabad FC, where he laid the foundation for the Indian Super League (ISL) side. Marquez nurtured young talents, helping them develop their game. In his second season with Hyderabad FC during the 2021–22 season, he led the team to win the ISL Cup. From Akash Mishra to Asish Rai, Mohammad Yasir to Liston Colaco, Marquez groomed many young talents who have since become key figures for their current teams as well as the Indian national team.

Last season, the 55-year-old joined FC Goa and continued his winning ways with his new club. Under Marquez’s guidance, the Gaurs qualified for the ISL playoffs for the first time in three years. Now, the Spaniard will face a more challenging task as he takes on the role of head coach for both the club and the senior Indian national team simultaneously.

Marquez acknowledged that he has become much more familiar with Indian conditions after spending the last four years in the country. He also mentioned that his prior experience working with Indian players would benefit him in his role with the national team.

"It is difficult, of course, but India has become like my second country as I’ve spent four years here, something that I have never done before," Marquez said in an interview with the AIFF media team.

"I think I know most of the important players in the ISL and the I-League, and I signed a player from the Santosh Trophy as well, when I was with Hyderabad FC. I know the traditions, and I’ve got a good feeling about this. Football is unpredictable, but my feeling is that I’m ready to take up this role," he added.

Hailing from Spain, Marquez has vast experience coaching in his home country. Prior to moving to India, Marquez coached in La Liga and La Liga 2, where he was in charge of UD Las Palmas, RCD Espanyol B, and several other renowned clubs.

After spending four years in India, the Spanish tactician has closely observed the league and noted its progress in recent years. He shared his assessment of the league and the footballing structure in India based on his observations since arriving in the country.

"Well, first and foremost, I feel the league has become bigger than before; we get more matches. When I initially came here, we were playing from within the COVID bubble, so the competition was short. Now we add a new team every year."

"When I initially arrived, the players were not as consistent. They would play well one season but fade away in the next campaign. Now that most of the players are aware of what they need to do, they are more professional and focused. Be it diet, rest, or training sessions, they follow all the programs with the utmost discipline," he stated.

"I can generally say that there has been a lot of improvement in the Indian players, though my feeling is that India can improve a thousand times more. But I’d also say that there are plenty of challenges in that regard. India is like 20 countries put together," he further added.

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Known for his adept match-reading abilities and sharp strategic moves, Marquez is recognized for deploying possession-based attacking football. The Spaniard is also celebrated for nurturing young talents and bringing them into the spotlight.

When asked about the philosophy he plans to implement with the national team, Marquez said, "I know that there are a lot of coaches who like to dictate how the team should play. My opinion, however, is that I have come to India; India has not come to me. Therefore, I have to adapt to the players I have.

"It’s different when you are a national team coach; you can choose the players you want. Not like at a club where you can choose some players, but you have to work with the ones that you have on most occasions," he explained.

"In general, I like to play with a lot of organization and order, and I like to play through the wings. Every coach would like their team to play good offensive football, but the most important thing is to win. How you win is, of course, important, but we have to be a competitive team first and foremost," Marquez continued.

In June, the Blue Tigers suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat against Qatar, dealing a final blow to their qualification hopes for Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Nonetheless, the Indian football team will now pursue the same qualifying path as before, aiming to secure a spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Round 3. Reflecting on this situation, the Spaniard commented,

"We want to be in Pot 1. That would give us an advantage. We must play competitive games to improve, but that does not mean that we need to play the strongest teams right now.

"Sides like Vietnam, Lebanon, and Syria are all competitive teams in Asia. All of these teams are higher ranked than India at this moment. It would be best for India to play such teams at this moment, and not against teams that are ranked considerably lower than us. Once we show improvement against these teams, we can aim to play against even better sides," Marquez signed off.  

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2023-2024