Clifford Miranda joins Mumbai City FC as assistant coach 

Mumbai City FC have roped in Clifford Miranda as their new assistant coach for the upcoming season. The Islanders recently also parted ways with former assistant coaches Anthony Fernandes and Hiroshi Miyazawa, with Miranda set to replace them.

Miranda is a well-known figure in Indian football and is considered one of the country’s most promising coaches. He began his coaching career with FC Goa’s reserve team and was later appointed assistant manager under Sergio Lobera during the 2019-20 season, where the club clinched the ISL title.

Following Lobera’s departure that season, Miranda stepped in as interim manager for the last five games of the season, securing four wins and helping FC Goa become the first ISL team to qualify for the AFC Champions League.

The former Indian international then moved to Odisha FC, where he again served as interim manager for the final month of the 2023 Super Cup campaign. Defying expectations, he led the team to victory and earned praise for guiding the club to their first-ever trophy.

Last season, Miranda joined Mohun Bagan SG as an assistant coach, where he was part of the team that won the ISL Shield before taking over the role of assistant coach at Mumbai City FC.

In an interview with the club’s media team after signing his contract, the 41-year-old expressed his excitement about joining the ISL champions.

“I am delighted to join Mumbai City FC and Petr Kratky’s coaching staff. This is a dynamic set of players and a top-quality team. The club has consistently raised the standards in Indian football, and together, I believe we can achieve great things. I am excited to contribute to the club’s ongoing success and help push the boundaries even further.”

Additionally, Mumbai City have brought in the experienced Denis Kaven as their strength and conditioning coach. Kaven has an extensive background, having worked with various clubs across Europe and Asia.

Head coach Petr Kratky shared his thoughts, expressing his belief that Miranda will be a valuable asset to the squad, particularly with the presence of numerous young Indian players on the team.

"It will be exciting to work with Clifford and Denis in the upcoming seasons. Both are extremely talented in their own ways, and their presence in the setup will surely benefit the team. I hope we can push ourselves further this season at Mumbai City FC and I am confident they will play significant roles in achieving that," Kratky said.

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Mumbai City FC in a strong position ahead of 2024-25 season

Mumbai City FC has lost a few key players, including Rahul Bheke, Apuia Ralte, and Jorge Pereyra Diaz, who were instrumental in their recent successes. However, they have been quick to secure replacements and have added several quality players.

At the back, the club has extended Tiri’s contract and is actively searching for Bheke’s replacement. In midfield, they have brought in Jamshedpur FC’s Jérémy Manzorro and FC Goa’s captain Brandon Fernandes. Additionally, there are reports suggesting they might sign former FC Barcelona and Arsenal player Jon Toral.

Mumbai City FC has also signed Noufal PN from Gokulam Kerala FC as an option on the flanks while adding the experience of Jayesh Rane and Rehenesh TP as well. The Islanders certainly still have more business to conduct and will be looking to add several more quality players to compete against the top teams.