I-League 2017/18: Aizawl FC appoint Santosh Kashyap as new head coach

Just a day after Paulo Meneses was sacked, I-League defending champions Aizawl FC have announced Santosh Kashyap as their new head coach.

Menezes was sacked after a poor run of games saw Aizawl go on a seven-match unbeaten run, as the defending champions fell down the pecking order in the title race this season.

"Aizawl Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Santosh Kashyap as the new Head Coach for the senior team," said Aizawl FC in a statement.

"The former Mumbai FC and Mohun Bagan head coach is an AFC Pro License holder which, The People’s Club needs for its upcoming challenge in the 2018 AFC CUP," the club statement further read.

Born in Delhi, Kashyap has represented India in his playing days as a striker. After his retirement from professional football, the-51-year-old had the experience of coaching I-League clubs like Air India (2010-12), Mohun Bagan (2012), ONGC (2012-13), Rangdajied United (2013), Royal Wahingdoh (2014-15), Salgaocar (2016) and Mumbai FC (2016-17).

Kashyap was credited and applauded for finishing third with the newcomers Royal Wahingdoh in their opening season and for saving the sinking ship Salgaocar the following year.

However, he came under heavy criticism after leading Mumbai FC into relegation last season.

Aizawl had sacked former coach Paulo Meneses from the head coach post after his side failed to win their last seven matches on the trot, due to which the Mizoram-based club has fallen behind in the title race.

They currently lie sixth on the I-League table with 17 points to their name, 12 points behind league leaders Minerva Punjab, who suffered a 1-0 loss at the hands of Kolkata giants East Bengal, earlier on Tuesday.

The coach, who had previously served as an assistant to Vicente del Bosque in the Spanish national team had told Sportskeeda after his sacking that it was the inexperience of the squad that led to the poor run of results.