The Juggernauts are ready to roll with a new head coach after the departure of Gombau, and the man they are looking to appoint is none other than the Spanish magician, Sergio Lobera! After a short-lived adventure in China, Lobera is in advanced talks to lead Odisha FC as their manager for the upcoming season, IFTWC can confirm.
While there have been talks between the Spaniard and East Bengal, Odisha FC are ahead in the race for his appointment as their new head coach.
Sergio Lobera’s possible arrival is expected to inject a fresh perspective into the team as they finished sixth in the league this season and were later eliminated by Mohun Bagan in the playoffs. After the conclusion of the league, the club announced their decision to part ways with Josep Gombau, stating that the decision was made in line with the club’s ambitions and standards for the present and future.
The Indian football community was abuzz with speculation about Sergio Lobera’s future over the past few weeks as he was linked with various clubs. However, Odisha FC are currently leading the race for the Spanish manager’s signature, convincing him to return to India and take charge of a new project. With Lobera’s impressive track record in the Indian Super League, the Juggernauts will be hoping that he can work his magic and transform the team’s fortunes in the upcoming season.
Having previously guided FC Goa to the final in the 2018-19 season and winning the League Winners Shield the following year, Sergio Lobera is no stranger to success in the Indian Super League. Goa parted ways with Lobera in 2020, and he signed with the City Group-owned Mumbai City FC a few months later. He enjoyed a stellar debut season with Mumbai, leading them to their first-ever piece of silverware in the form of the League Shield. They also won the Playoffs trophy the same year, making him the only manager to win the league double.
Despite his success at Mumbai, Sergio Lobera didn’t stay with the club for long, opting instead to take on a new challenge with another City Group-owned club, Sichuan Jiuniu in the Chinese Second Division. While the move initially raised eyebrows, the City Group had its sights set on a promotion to the Chinese Super League and brought in Lobera and his trusted lieutenants Jorge Ortiz and Hernan Santana, along with Edu Garcia from India, to help achieve their goal.
However, Jiuniu’s first season under Lobera didn’t quite go according to plan as they finished in seventh place, winning 18 out of 34 matches. With the City Group’s promotion ambitions yet to be realized, it appears that Lobera is now ready to return to India to take up the mantle of Odisha FC’s new head coach. With his impressive track record in the ISL, Odisha, if the deal goes through, will no doubt be hoping that Lobera can replicate his previous successes and help guide the team to new heights. With him at the helm and some shrewd moves in the transfer market, Odisha can look forward to making a run for the silverware in the upcoming season.
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