Exclusive | Ed Engelkes parts ways with Punjab FC after a 3-year stint as technical director of youth program

Punjab FC have long prioritized grassroots and youth development, a strategy that yielded significant rewards in the 2023-24 season. The club's youth side clinched the RF Development League title in May and then became the inaugural winners of the Dream Sports Championship a month later.

However, Ed Engelkes, the man responsible for overseeing the development made at the youth level over the past couple of years, has parted ways with the club, a source close to the proceedings disclosed to Sportskeeda.

Engelkes was the technical director of the youth program and oversaw the club's academy since his appointment in December 2021. He also served as interim head coach after the Shers parted ways with Ashley Westwood mid-season during their I-League stint.

Under Engelkes' leadership, Punjab FC nurtured numerous talents who advanced to the senior team, including Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Maheson Singh, and Jaskaranvir Singh.

Not just success in the RFDL and Dream Sports Championship, Punjab, this season, became the only ISL club to qualify for the national championships of all age-group AIFF Youth Leagues.

Now, Engelkes' departure has brought about a significant change in the club's seemingly established academy system.

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Punjab FC undergoing a complete overhaul across the board ahead of the ISL 2024-25 season

Ed Engelkes' departure means Punjab FC will need to restructure its academy system. But that has been the club's approach across the board, intentionally or not, ahead of the next season.

Firstly, the Shers parted ways with head coach Staikos Vergetis, assistant coach Dimitrios Kakkos, and strength and conditioning coach Nikolaos Tsagkatakis. But that was only the backend part of departures.

As reported by Sportskeeda, the club bid farewell to their entire overseas contingent too. Nine other Indian players departed the club as well, including the likes of Bidyashagar Singh, Sahil Tavora, Isaac Vanmalsawma, Mohammed Salah, Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Sweden Fernandes, and Prasanth K.

The club's rebuild is still at a nascent stage as they are yet to zoom on in their head coach target. Once that spot is filled up, the rest will follow in tandem.