Indian Super League outfit East Bengal FC have announced the appointment of Spanish head coach Carles Cuadrat on a two-year deal. The former Bengaluru FC coach will be replacing Stephen Constantine for the upcoming season.
Cuadrat has a long-standing connection with India. He started his coaching career as an assistant coach for Bengaluru FC. He was Albert Roca’s assistant and under their tutelage, the Blues won the Federation Cup, inaugural Super Cup and also reached the finals of the AFC Cup during their 2016 to 2018 spell.
He soon got promoted as the head coach in 2018 and he immediately made an impact by winning the ISL title in the 2018-19 season. The Blues defeated FC Goa in the finals. They also became the first team in the ISL history to top the league phase and also win the trophy.
Even the following season was very fruitful for Bengaluru FC under Cuadrat’s influence. They reached the playoffs again and recorded the longest unbeaten run in the league’s history. He was sacked in 2021 by the Blues.
Hence, East Bengal will be his second stint in India and he is quite knowledgeable about the conditions and the players. So it will be an advantage for him but the main factor will depend on how he manages to bring in quality players to take the club ahead.
The Red and Golds finished in ninth position with just six wins and 13 losses. However, there was a significant improvement from the previous season. Cuadrat will be focusing on building a strong team and taking them to the playoffs.
Speaking about the appointment, Debabrate Mukherjee of Emami Group said, “We are pleased to bring Mr Cuadrat on board. We are confident that his vast wealth of experience and impressive track record in Indian football will help us build a strong team to achieve greater heights in Indian football.”
Even Cuadrat reiterated the same and feel honoured that a club like East Bengal has selected him as their new coach. “I am very proud to have been appointed as the head coach of Emami East Bengal for the next two years. It’s very exciting that a Club with so much history that has won so many trophies in Indian football has given me the opportunity to drive the Club’s vision forward,” he stated.
He also shared how much he loves India and wants to make a mark on his return. He acknowledges the huge fanbase and wants to work hard to make them happy in the upcoming season. “I am delighted to return to India, a country that I love dearly and where I have had many happy moments. I will work with all my might to create new moments of happiness with the huge fan base of the Club across the globe and hope to witness the stands at the stadiums filled with Red & Gold,” Cuadrat concluded.
It will be interesting to see how the Spaniard fares under tough circumstances. There is always a pressure of managing these clubs with so much legacy and tradition. Also, East Bengal’s track record with managers isn’t that good. The management must understand the value of patience and give him time to work his way to glory.
