ISL-winning Carles Cuadrat quits Bengaluru FC after five years, Moosa interim coach
After three consecutive defeats in ISL, Bengaluru FC seek a new direction. Hunt for head coach has begun.
Carles Cudarat has stepped down as the head coach of Indian Super League (ISL) club Bengaluru FC.
The club, on Wednesday, announced the Spaniard’s departure after mutual consent with the team management. Former Indian football team player Naushad Moosa has been appointed interim head coach.
Cuadrat, a former Spain Under-18 international, arrived in India in 2016 and worked as the assistant to former Bengaluru FC head coach Albert Roca for two years. Post Roca’s departure, Cuadrat took over the reins in what was his first job as a head coach.
He hit the ground running with the Blues, leading Bengaluru FC to the ISL 2018-19 title. Bengaluru FC finished on top of the ISL points table and then went on to beat FC Goa in the final to clinch the trophy.
This was the only time in ISL history that a team topping the league table went on to win the championship. During the ISL 2018-19 campaign, Carles Cuadrat’s Bengaluru FC were on an 11-match unbeaten streak. This included a six-match winning run – both ISL records.
The following season, Cuadrat led Bengaluru FC to the playoffs again but failed to go past eventual champions ATK in the semifinal.
Under the 52-year-old Spaniard, the Blues again made a stellar start to ISL 2020-21, staying unbeaten in their first six matches. Bengaluru have, however, gone off track since, losing three in-a-row.
Carles Cuadrat leaves Bengaluru FC in fifth position in the ISL 2020-21 points table, just one point behind fourth-placed Jamshedpur FC.
Parth Jindal, the director of Bengaluru FC, thanked Cuadrat for his services and his role in moulding Bengaluru FC into one of the powerhouses of Indian football.
“After deep deliberation with the management, we feel the club needs to head in a new direction – one where the ethos and philosophy of Bengaluru FC begins reflecting again,” said Jindal.
Naushad Moosa will be incharge starting with the match against Robbie Fowler’s East Bengal at the Fatorda on Saturday. Moosa has been with the club for four seasons.
_Lead photo: ISL Media
_