Football
ISL: Jamshedpur FC appoints Owen Coyle as head coach
Indian Super League (ISL) side Jamshedpur FC on Friday appointed Owen Columba Coyle, who steered Chennaiyin FC to the finals last season, as head coach for the upcoming season.
The 54-year-old, a former Burnley and Bolton Wanderers manager, replaces Spaniard Antonio Iriondo as the head coach and has signed a two-year contract with the club.
JFC took to Twitter to share their news of appointment:
From Vanakkam to Johar... The excitement is hard to contain. Jamshedpur, let's welcome our Head Coach, Owen Coyle with the biggest shout out.
From Vanakkam to Johar...
The excitement is hard to contain. Jamshedpur, let's welcome our Head Coach, Owen Coyle with the biggest shout out.
Drop a ❤️ to show some love.#OwenAtTheFurnace#JamKeKhelo pic.twitter.com/XGz9ercqLD
— Jamshedpur FC (@JamshedpurFC) August 7, 2020
JFC's experiment with Spanish coaches Cesar Ferrando and Iriondo, who brought in the tiki-taka style, failed to deliver the expected results in the last two seasons of the cash-rich tournament. JFC under Englishman Steve Coppell showed promise and finished fifth but the outfit did not find a place in the play-offs.
Coyle, a forward, who played for several English and Scotland clubs, including the Ireland national team, was a hero for Chennayin FC’s fans in the last season. Taking over a team who were stuck at the bottom with just five points and four goals in six matches under John Gregory, he managed to produce a winning unit by displaying faith in the capabilities of Indian recruits.
Chennai reached the finals where it lost to ATK, now ATK Mohun Bagan.
JFC had six Spanish players and a Brazilian in the team last season. In fact, the Spaniards, including skipper Tiri, were the fulcrum of the franchise which became part of the ISL in 2017.
