Mohun Bagan Super Giant decided to part ways with head coach Juan Ferrando due to the club's disappointing performance in the Indian Super League on December 3.
The interim head coach position will be filled by the technical director, Antonio Habas, beginning with the Kalinga Super Cup next week, as announced by the Indian Super League (ISL) franchise.
Ferrando took on the role of head coach for the Mariners in December 2021, transitioning from FC Goa to the Kolkata-based heavyweight club.
During his tenure, Mohun Bagan won the ISL title in the previous season and reached the inter-zonal semi-finals of the AFC Cup. Under his leadership, the club also clinched the Durand Cup.
"Thanks to Juan Ferrando for winning this year's Durand Cup and ISL 2022-23," Bagan said in a brief statement.
This season, the renowned club's performance declined, experiencing an early exit from the group stage in the AFC Cup. Furthermore, they dropped to the fifth position in the ISL standings following a sequence of three consecutive defeats.
Habas, who previously coached ATK Mohun Bagan in the ISL 2021-22 season, holds the distinction of being the first head coach to secure two ISL titles.
Commencing his journey with Atletico de Kolkata in the 2014 edition, the Spaniard achieved the feat of becoming the initial head coach to clinch the ISL title. After a stint with FC Pune City, he returned to India and joined ATK FC, guiding them to victory in the ISL during the 2019-20 season.
In the subsequent season, Habas returned to ATK Mohun Bagan and led them to the ISL final. However, he parted ways with the Mariners midway through the 2021-22 season, with Ferrando assuming the coaching responsibilities.
Ahead of the ongoing season, the 66-year-old made a comeback to the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise, this time in the role of technical director.
Mohun Bagan and arch-rivals East Bengal are placed in the same group for the Kalinga Super Cup. The Mariners are set to kick off their campaign on January 9.
The intense rivalry between the two teams will come to the forefront as they face each other on January 19.
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