ISL 2019-20: Why former Bundesliga coach Robin Dutt is a good managerial fit for Jamshedpur FC ?

Antonio Iriondo had taken the managerial reigns at Jamshedpur FC and much was expected from the Spaniard, given his wealth of experience as a football coach in Spain’s Segunda Division and Segunda B. However, given the results so far, it would be fair to conclude that his audition hasn’t gone according to plan. Jamshedpur are eighth in the current season of Indian Super League (ISL) and are out of playoffs contention.

The Spaniard in all probability will be dismissed following their home defeat to FC Goa- with a sparse crowd there to witness his final humiliation.

Unless the club rethink their vision, they could be stuck in mid-table mediocrity. The term 'mid-table' has negative connotations to it. For many, it reflects stagnation and a lack of ambition.

Jamshedpur FC have had to endure a difficult term this ISL term. (Image: JamshedpurFC)

Losing Michael Soosairaj, Subrata Paul and Faroukh Chaudhary to rival clubs could be viewed as an utter lack of ambition and supports the notion that Jamshedpur aren’t serious about challenging for top honours.

One thing is for sure, if Jamshedpur wants to snap out of mediocrity and recognise the climate of competition around them, then their bosses would have put their hands in their pockets and trade financial punches with people such as Sanjiv Goenka did for ATK FC or how Mumbai City FC tied up with Abu Dhabi City Football Group.

To keep pace with the big boys, it is therefore important the Red Miners get their next managerial appointment right if they wish to return to the top-four in the immediate future. It does not necessarily mean appointing someone like Rafael Benitez or Roberto Martinez, because the sad fact of the matter is that Jamshedpur cannot pay the wages that some of these men would demand.

It would still be beneficial though for the club to appoint someone recognisable, that can not only excite supporters and players alike but also help to overcome the notion of mid-table mediocrity.

Whoever comes in next needs to be seen as an improvement on what Jamshedpur had, and one way around that is in appointing a coach who is recognisable; someone who can galvanise everyone involved in the club almost immediately in a way that Antonio Iriondo simply wasn’t able to. And Jamshedpur should look no further than Indian-origin manager Robin Dutt.

Born and brought up in Cologne, Dutt’s managerial career began in 1995 with the regional side, TSG Leonberg. During his stint with former Bundesliga club Stuttgarter Kickers, he led the team to victory in DFB-Pokal in 2006 and thus he rose to prominence. Since then he has coached Bundesliga sides FC Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen.

Robin Dutt brings in experience of managing at Bundesliga clubs like Stuttgarter Kickers, FC Freiburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Werder Bremen (Image: dw_sports)

Dutt also briefly served as the sporting director of the German Football Federation (DFB) and Bundesliga club VFB Stuttgart.

The former Bundesliga manager recently expressed his desire to coach in India, "In this whole world, there is a lot of money. I''m 55 and money is not a reason for me to be a football coach and I won''t just go to any club for six-seven months."

"I have been at the job in Bochum for 19 months, which is more than the average tenure for a manager in Germany. The next time I get a break, I could go to India. I am open to the possibility of coaching in India. But it is maybe better for me to go there and give my experience to the coaches. I don''t have any concrete plans," he has said.

Jamshedpur needs three key things in their manager right now: experience of managing a squad recently experiencing high turnover; the desire to play the front foot, high-intensity football and leadership on and off the field. And Dutt ticks each boxes.

Also Read: FC Goa becomes first Indian club to reach AFC Champions League

Of course, it wouldn't be straightforward - no managerial appointment is. Yet, Dutt could prove to be an astute acquisition.