Mumbai City appoint Spanish coach Manolo Marquez as the…

Mumbai City FC have announced the appointment of Spanish coach Manolo Marquez as their new head coach ahead of the 2026-27 season. 

The 57-year-old joins the Maharashtra-based side on a one-year contract after leaving fellow Indian Super League side FC Goa following a three-year stint. He brings more than 23 years of managerial experience. He was also appointed as the Indian National Team coach, managing both club and country simultaneously. 

The appointment signals the Islanders’ ambition to win trophies. Mumbai City finished third in the 2025–26 ISL league stage with 25 points, missing out on the ISL title.

Manolo Marquez is a proven winner in India, having won the Indian Super League Cup with Hyderabad FC and two consecutive Super Cup titles with FC Goa. Mumbai City FC will be looking to be back at their best and win trophies. 

Before becoming a coach, Marquez played as a defender, retiring at the age of 28. 

Marquez’s coaching journey began with PB Anguera in 2002-03. This was his first managerial role and helped him build his fundamentals. He then took charge of AE Prat during the 2003-04 season in the fifth tier of Spanish football. In the 2004-05 season, the club finished first and won promotion to the fourth tier. 

In July 2006, he joined fellow fourth-tier club CE Europa for a one-year stint. A year later, he returned for another stint with AE Prat. They finished second in the Primera Catalana to earn promotion before finishing eighth in the 2008-09 Tercera Division. In 2010, he joined Badalona, leading them to second place in the Segunda División B - Grupo III. The following season, the team finished fourth.

https://www.indiasportshub.com/articles/afc-challenge-league-2026-27-draw-announced

His next move came in January 2013, when he joined RCD Espanyol B for a one-year stint. He later managed fourth-tier side Sant Andreu from July 2015 to October 2015. 

In the 2016-2017 season, he managed Las Palmas Atletico. He won promotion to the third tier. He had a short stint with Las Palmas at the start of the 2017-2018 season, finally getting the opportunity to manage in Spain’s top tier, La Liga. He resigned after just six league matches, having recorded two wins and four defeats. 

At the start of the 2018-19 season he took his first managerial role outside Spain, managing Croatian top-flight side NK Istra. It was another short two-month stint. 

In late December 2018, Marquez got his first managerial role in Asia with Thai League 1 side Ratchaburi FC. However, he resigned after just one month, citing personal reasons. 

In August 2020, Marquez got his first role in India, with Hyderabad FC appointing him as their head coach. In his first season, Hyderabad finished fifth, just two points short of a playoff spot. In the 2021-22 season, Hyderabad finished second in the league phase before defeating Kerala Blasters on penalties in the final to win their first-ever major trophy.

In the 2022-23 season, the club reached the semi-finals, where they lost to Mohun Bagan. Under Marquez, Hyderabad improved every season, moving from fifth in 2020-21 to second and champions in 2021-22, before finishing second again in 2022-23. 

In June 2023, he joined fellow ISL side FC Goa. His first season with FC Goa ended with a third-place finish in the ISL league stage, while the following campaign saw the Gaurs finish second. During his time in Goa, the club enjoyed success in domestic competitions, winning back-to-back Super Cup titles and securing qualification for Asian football. In 2024, Marquez also took charge of the Indian national team, managing both club and country simultaneously.  

The Spaniard is a proven coach who has won multiple trophies in India. He now has the opportunity to lead Mumbai City FC back to winning silverware. This experience could prove vital as Mumbai City FC aim to return to the top and qualify for continental football. 

Marquez’s preferred formation is 4-2-3-1. At FC Goa, he primarily used the same system, while also switching to 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 depending on the situation.

Mumbai City have placed their faith in Marquez’s wealth of experience, strong leadership and proven coaching ability. Mumbai have a manager who already knows Indian football and has won the ISL Cup and two Super Cups. He also has the experience of working with young Indian players, and can guide Mumbai City’s youngsters. He also brings continental experience, having managed FC Goa in the AFC Champions League Two campaign. His familiarity with the ISL means he will not need to spend time adapting to Indian football, while his experience should help him handle the expectations of the club.

Speaking after his appointment, Marquez expressed his excitement about taking charge of Mumbai City.

"This is one of the biggest and most successful clubs in India, with a clear ambition to keep growing and competing for the highest honours. I enjoy taking on challenges, and I see this as a fantastic opportunity to work with a talented group of players and build something special together. We will work tirelessly every day to create a team that our fans can be proud of. I would like to thank everyone at the club for placing their trust and confidence in me, and I look forward to this new chapter."

Mumbai City enter the 2026-27 season with renewed ambitions under Marquez. With a coach who already understands Indian football and a proven record of winning trophies and developing players, the Islanders will hope his arrival helps them challenge for trophies once again.