Sergio Lobera Rodriguez FC Goa’s new head coach
FC Goa confirmed the appointment of Sergio Lobera Rodriguez as
their new head coach. Ahead of the fourth edition of the Hero Indian Super
League, the 40-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Gaurs and will be
taking over the reins from Brazilian icon Zico, who led Goa to semi-final,
runners-up and bottom-placed finishes in the first three editions of the
league.
“I’m delighted to join FC Goa and play my part in a very exciting
vision. I see FC Goa as the ideal step in my career and hope to achieve the
best results for the club. The passion for football in Goa is well documented
and I’m keen to ensure that we play an attacking brand of football that the
people of Goa can be proud of,” said Rodriguez.
The Spaniard, who has previously worked with the likes of Sergio
Busquets, Bojan Krkic, Jonathan Dos Santos, Jordi Alba and Oriol Romeu at the
La Masia, was also impressed with the club and its facilities. “The owners are
keen to ensure that Goan football does not take a backseat in the exciting
future of Indian football and having had a chance to visit Goa and observe the
facilities and the infrastructure from close quarters, I’m convinced that the
club is ideally placed to compete in not just the ISL but across the youth
level as well,” said Rodriguez.
Born in Zaragoza, Rodriguez signed for FC Barcelona as part of their
coaching staff after impressing with Dosa Salesians and UFB Jàbac Terrassa. His
time with Barcelona’s famed youth academy saw him guide Barcelona’s Alevin A
side to an unbeaten run for two consecutive seasons in the Futbol 7 Preferente
league. He was then named manager of Barcelona’s C-team in the 2006–07 season
in the Tercera División before being appointed as director of sports at
Terrassa FC in June 2007, where he also donned the role of manager for the
final seven games of the campaign.
His next assignment saw him become the manager of CD San Roque de Lepe
in May 2010. Rodriguez ended his brief tenure with San Roque the following
season, opting to take over the top job at Spanish Segunda B outfit AD Ceuta.
He returned to Barcelona in 2012 when he was named assistant manager to the
late Tito Vilanova. However, his time with the Catalan giants this time around
was short-lived as he signed on as head coach of Segunda División side UD Las
Palmas a month later.
Rodriguez finished his first season with Las Palmas in sixth position,
narrowly missing out on promotion to the Spanish top-flight against UD Almeria
in the play-offs. His last coaching assignment was in Morocco, where he coached
Moghreb Atlético Tetuán in the Botola – the Moroccan Championship.
Gaurs president Akshay Tandon expressed his delight after roping in
Rodriguez, who he believes fits in seamlessly with the philosophy of the club.
“We have always maintained that we are looking for a coach who will be able to
help us achieve our vision for Goan football and Sergio fits that profile
perfectly. We are excited by the ambition he has shown and his enthusiasm in
getting to grips with the Indian game. Sergio comes with a proven track record
of promoting young talent. And with the club orienting itself towards the same
goal as well, Sergio was the obvious candidate,” he said.
Indian Colts Defeat U19 Team of Singapore 7-2
Indian Colts Defeat U19 Team of Singapore 7-2