Manolo Márquez has stepped down as the head coach of the Indian national football team following the team’s underwhelming performance in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. The resignation comes shortly after India’s disheartening defeat to Hong Kong, which effectively ended their qualifying hopes.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed accepting Márquez’s resignation, with Deputy Secretary General K. Satyanarayan stating that both parties reached a mutual agreement. Márquez, who had signed a two-year contract, is leaving with a year still remaining on his term.
Under Márquez’s leadership, the team endured a tough spell—winning just one out of eight international matches in the past year. Draws and losses against lower-ranked teams like Bangladesh, Thailand, and Hong Kong fueled public disappointment and intensified criticism over Márquez’s tactical approach.
A respected figure in Indian club football, Márquez made his mark by leading Hyderabad FC to the ISL championship in the 2021–22 season and later coached FC Goa. However, his stint with the national team failed to replicate that success.
The June 10 loss to Hong Kong proved to be the tipping point after months of lackluster results. Márquez had earlier voiced frustration following a goalless draw against Bangladesh in March, hinting at mounting pressure and dissatisfaction with the team’s trajectory.
With Márquez’s departure, Indian football now stands at a crucial crossroads, and AIFF has initiated the hunt for a new head coach to reinvigorate the squad and restore national pride on the international stage.
