East Bengal have appointed Santosh Trophy winning coach Mridul Banerjee as their interim manager till the Federation Cup in May. Reports had emerged that Armando Colaco was being considered for the post after Trevor Morgan’s resignation following a defeat to DSK Shivajians. But Banerjee has been roped in to take care of the club during these turbulent times.
As the 10th I-League nears its business end, the script seems too familiar for the East Bengal loyalists. A promising start, a mid-tournament slop and an unceremonious end - this season has been reminiscent of the past failures of the Red and Golds.
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At this juncture, let us take a look at 5 candidates who would be ideal to head the club on a long-term basis.
#5 Khalid Jamil
The Kuwait-born Indian coach has scaled new heights this season as the coach of Aizawl FC, leading them to a championship battle with Mohun Bagan. From a side who barely managed to stave off relegation last season, the north-east club have forged a unit capable of grounding big names.
The contribution of the former Mumbai FC coach in this incredible journey has been immense. From installing the correct team spirit to landing the perfect bunch of foreigners, Jamil has shaped the squad significantly to pose a stiff challenge for the trophy.
His management prowess has made him the ideal candidate to revive the sinking ship of East Bengal. However, having just joined the Mizoram side, it is highly unlikely that the 39-year old will switch allegiance so soon.
#4 Subhash Bhowmick
Whenever one reflects on the success stories of East Bengal, one name which is bound to crop up is that of the mercurial manager, Subhash Bhowmick. From winning back to back National Football League (as the I-League was back then) titles to the Kolkata Football League, IFA Shield and the LG ASEAN Club Cup, Bhowmick had taken the club to unforeseen heights.
The veteran coach is well aware of the dynamics of the Red and Golds and knows how to impart a winning mentality to a depleted side. His past tenures had yielded massive results, owing to his ability to bring out the best from his squad. His strength lies in his knowledge of the Indian football scene and the experience of handling big names in a top team.
The current crop of East Bengal players seem to have taken their eye off the ball and when the team spirit is at the lowest, Bhowmick fits the bill perfectly to steer the side away from the ignominy of this appalling season.
#3 Mridul Banerjee
Having led the Bengal side to their 32nd Santosh Trophy win, Mridul Banerjee seems like the perfect candidate to land the job of managing a top team like East Bengal on a long-term basis. The Santosh Trophy winning coach has donned the role of a caretaker coach previously for Mohun Bagan until Karim Bencherifa had been appointed.
This time, he has been called in to do the same for the other Calcutta giant.
The 56-year old had been the head coach of Mohammedan Sporting Club during the previous season of the Calcutta Football League. Thereafter, Banerjee was made the head coach of the Bengal side for the Santosh Trophy. The coach landed the trophy with a bunch of young, spirited individuals, defeating Goa at their home.
If one had followed the gameplay of either Bengal or Mohammedan Sporting Club, it would have been evident how he prefers to deploy his troops. Retain possession, thread a number of passes and build an attack moving forward – this was the overall strategy of the astute coach during his previous stints. It is pertinent to note here that Morgan had been a proponent of a similar strategy but failed to execute the same this season.
But with the correct conditioning during his next few weeks, Banerjee can be considered to head the side on a permanent basis if results go his way. The squad has great depth and a number of ball players to compliment his style of play. It remains to be seen whether the former Mohammedan SC coach can replicate the same with the current East Bengal players.
#2 Armando Colaco
The former East Bengal and Dempo coach had expressed his desire to help the side stage a comeback from these troubled times. However, his name was ignored by the officials, who went with the advice of the East Bengal legends namely, Manoranjan Bhattacharya, Tushar Rakshit and Bhaskar Ganguly.
But, in the longer run, the 63-year old can be brought back as the head coach when the term of the interim coach ends in May. He coached the Red and Golds for two years from 2013 to 2015 and had maintained an impressive win percentage of 41.94%. With years of coaching experience in the Indian football arena, Colaco can be the messiah who can restore the glory of East Bengal.
His previous sacking had been rather acrimonious, but the Goan had maintained that he would be more than happy to help the side in these torrid times. But with the appointment of Mridul Banerjee as the interim manager, it has opened up a new possibility for Colaco to oversee the club on a long-term basis.
#1 Ashley Westwood
The most coveted name of the Indian football scene, Ashley Westwood revolutionised the way football was played in India. A strict professional, Westwood’s emphasis on training and fitness was rewarded with phenomenal success as he led Bengaluru FC to two I-League titles in three years.
After having resigned from Penang FA, Westwood would now be the best possible option for the Red and Golds to hope for a better show in the next season. The Brit has a strict work regimen and will not allow any dereliction of the same under any circumstance whatsoever. Morgan had faced a stiff challenge on this front as his team selection was muddled by over enthusiastic management staff of East Bengal.
Under Westwood, it will be a different side as he would be looking to cut out the extra players and add a few good names to enhance their title prospects. Currently, the laxity that has set in the East Bengal ranks, a man of the nature of Westwood would fit in aptly. However, the wage demands of the prolific Englishman are a matter of concern for a club which is funded mainly by the members and a handful sponsors.
