Kolkata: ISL winning coach Antonio Lopez Habas has parted ways with the FC Pune City franchise, the club confirmed on Friday. Assistant coach Miguel Martinez Gonzalez also terminated his contract.
The Rajesh Wadhawan owned club confirmed the move stating that Antonio’s as well as Miguel’s contracts were terminated mutually.
“FC Pune City thanks Habas for his efforts over the last one and half years and wishes him the best in his future endeavors,” the club said in a press release.
“The name of the new Head Coach will be announced shortly,” it further stated.
Habas, who had led the defending champions Atletico de Kolkata to ISL glory in the inaugural season of the league in 2014 joined Pune City in 2016. He was rumoured to be leaving the club due to his commitments elsewhere.
Thanking the club and it’s fans for all the love and support in the past one year he (Habas) said, “It was a very professional and pleasant experience working with FC Pune City in ISL. However, due to longer season, it is unfortunate that I cannot continue as I have already made prior contractual commitments. I would like to thank the Owners, Management and the Orange Army who has stood by the team in the best and the worst moments. I wish the Club all the best for the future.”
One of the most successful coaches in the short history of the ISL, the Spaniard other than winning the title with ATK also had led them to the semi-finals in 2015, where they lost to the eventual champions Chennaiyin FC 4-2 on aggregate. However, he could not repeat the same feat in his sole season with Pune, as the club finished sixth among eight teams and could not qualify for the knockout stage.
Having built a strong team and with experienced ISL campaigners such as Marcelinho and Emiliano Alfaro in the side, this was expected to be the resurging season of the Orange Army and with someone like Habas at the helm who has seen the very best and worst of the league, Pune would have fancied their chances.
But, with his departure and with the cash-riched league starting in just over two months, it will be hard for the Maharashtra based club to find someone who can immediately be as effective as the former Granada and Valencia coach.