Manolo Márquez has called it quits as India's national team coach after less than a year in charge. The Spanish manager and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) agreed to part ways following a disappointing run of just one win in eight matches.
That lone victory came in a friendly against minnows Maldives. The more crucial matches for Asian Cup 2027 qualification have gone poorly, with India drawing against Singapore and losing to Hong Kong.
"We had to be honest about our progress," AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey explained. "The objectives we set a year ago weren't being met, so we mutually decided it was best to move on."
Dual Role Controversy
Márquez wasn't just leading the national team - he was also managing FC Goa in the Indian Super League. This double duty raised eyebrows, though he did guide Goa to a Super Cup triumph in May.
When questioned about this arrangement, Chaubey defended the setup by pointing to precedents. "Coaches like Ferguson, Hiddink, and Advocaat have held club and national roles simultaneously," he noted.
Not everyone agrees with this assessment. Former AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran blasted the dual-role decision: "No coach can do two jobs at the same time. He needs to focus on the national team full-time."
For bettors tracking India's prospects, things look grim. Currently ranked 127th by FIFA, the team sits at the bottom of their Asian Cup qualifying group despite being the highest-ranked team in it.
"We need to win all four remaining games," Prabhakaran warned. Failure to qualify would be "catastrophic for Indian football development" - making any bets on India's qualification a high-risk proposition.
Club Football Crisis
The troubles don't stop with the national team. The Indian Super League (ISL) is facing an existential crisis of its own.
The upcoming season has been put on hold as the 15-year contract between AIFF and their commercial partner expires in 2025. No new agreement has been reached, and India's Supreme Court has told the federation not to negotiate until a ruling on AIFF's constitution comes later this month.
The uncertainty has thrown pre-season preparations into chaos. Only six of the 13 ISL teams have committed to playing in the historic Durand Cup tournament starting soon.
"Most teams have declined because they're simply not ready," explained Arshad Shawl of second-tier Real Kashmir FC. "There's no clarity about next season, and it's affecting everyone."
For football fans and bettors alike, the Indian football landscape offers more questions than answers right now. With both national team performance and domestic league structure in doubt, caution is advised when considering any long-term bets in Indian football.
