I-League: Newly promoted Aizawl want Derrick Pereira as their manager

Derrick Pereira during his days with Pune FC

Newly promoted side Aizawl have made Derrick Pereira an offer to join them as their manager for their maiden I-League campaign. The experienced manager was last seen managing his boyhood club Salgaocar in last season’s I-League, where they the Goan club just managed to escape relegation on the last day of the season.

The 53-year-old former defender said that an offer was on the table but he was still unsure of his decision. TOI quoted the Goan saying, “They have made an offer to me but I am yet to decide.”

Pereira is considered as one of the best coaches in India right now and has an impressive resume to back him up. He has already won the I-League with Mahindra United while narrowly missing out on another one with Salgaocar.

However, Aizawl face a difficult task ahead of them convincing Pereira to join them as the only reason he left Pune FC was to head back to Goa. “One reason why I left Pune FC was to be with my family in Goa and now to pack my bags again will be a difficult decision,” concluded Pereira.

He did, however, win a Durand Cup with Salgaocar along with guiding them to the semi-finals of the Federation Cup. Aizawl are the first club from Mizoram who will compete in India’s premier division after winning the I-League second division by beating Lonestar Kashmir by seven points.

Pereira started his playing career with Salgaocar in the early 1980’s and later moved to Tata Football Acadamy for a year before returning to Salgaocar, where he would spend the next 13 years.