 "Manolo Marquez parts ways with Indian team; AIFF hunts for coach for second time in as many years")
Manolo Marquez parted ways with the Indian football team on Wednesday, 2 July, a year after his predecessor Igor Stimac was sacked from the job following a string of poor results. The decision to relieve the Spaniard of his role as head coach was formalised during the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Executive Committee meeting that took place on Wednesday.
Marquez’s departure from the Indian team comes nearly a month after the Indian team suffered a 0-1 defeat against Hong Kong , a team ranked 26 places below them on the FIFA rankings. It also comes during a turbulent time in Indian football where the Blue Tigers, and everyone and everything associated with it including the AIFF, is facing plenty of flak for their poor run in recent months .
Marquez did not resign, insists AIFF
The AIFF, however, insisted that the decision was the result of mutual agreement between the two parties.
“He did not resign. After discussions, it was mutually agreed that the AIFF and Manolo Marquez cannot continue as India (men) coach. Accordingly, he was let go,” AIFF acting general secretary M Satyanarayanan was quoted by Sportstar as saying.
Marquez’s decision thus ends double-duty for him – having to manage the Indian team in addition to FC Goa during the Indian Super League. The Spaniard had won the Super Cup with the ‘Gaurs’ this year besides helping Hyderabad FC win the league in 2022 but had limited success with the senior men’s national team, winning just one match in charge of the side – a 3-0 victory over Maldives in March.
Marquez leaves the Indian team at a time when they are yet to collect a single win in their ongoing AFC Asian Cup Qualifying campaign; India were held to goalless draw draw by Bangladesh in Shilling before suffering defeats against Thailand (0-1) and Hong Kong (0-2).
The AIFF is yet to officially name a successor for the 56-year-old, though they are likely to appoint an Indian.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
