When FC Goa defeated Bengaluru FC 2-1 in the second leg of semi-final at the Fatorda stadium earlier this month, it was Manolo Marquez’s last match as a coach of FC Goa. Though the Gaurs could not make it to the finals based on aggregate score (2-3), Manolo did manage to change the fortunes of FC Goa in the last two editions of ISL with back-to-back semi-final finish.
The Spaniard had taken over as the head coach of FC Goa during 2023-24 season after his successful three-year stint at Hyderabad FC. When Manolo took over, FC Goa had not qualified for the playoffs for the previous two seasons i.e. 2021-22 and 2022-23. But, Marquez quickly changed that.
During 2023-24 season, FC Goa finished third in the league stage with 13 wins and just three defeats in 22 matches. They held the top position in the league for the longest period during the season but narrowly missed out on the League Shield, finishing just three points behind Mohun Bagan SG. Defensively, they were one of the strongest sides in the league, conceding only 21 goals.
But, FC Goa’s playoff campaign ended in disappointment, as they squandered a 2-0 lead in the first leg of the playoffs, losing both their playoff ties against Mumbai City FC.
The current 2024-25 season further cemented Marquez’s reputation as one of ISL’s finest coaches.
Despite a poor start, wherein FC Goa won just one out of their first six games, they responded with a dramatic 12-game unbeaten run to finish at second position in the league, behind Mohun Bagan SG. The Gaurs won 14 games and lost just four of them in 24 matches, maintaining one of the best attacking and defensive records in the league.
But, in playoffs, FC Goa narrowly missed out to qualify for the finals based on aggregate score (2-3) against Bengaluru FC.
Despite the heartbreak, Marquez had taken a struggling FC Goa side and transformed them into serious contenders in both the seasons.
Before Manolo took over as the head coach of FC Goa, he was the coach of Hyderabad FC for three seasons.
When he took over as the head coach of Hyderabad FC during 2020-21 season, they had finished at bottom of the table during previous season i.e. 2019-20. But, under Marquez’s guidance, the team showed a drastic improvement. Hyderabad FC narrowly missed out on the playoffs, finishing fifth. Not only that, they ended the season with the joint-fewest losses (3).
The following season, i.e. 2021-22, Hyderabad FC finished second in the league stage. They suffered just four losses in 20 games while winning 11 of them. In fact, Hyderabad FC went on win their maiden ISL Trophy that season as they defeated Mohun Bagan SG in the semi-final followed by Kerala Blasters FC in the final. In just two years, Marquez had transformed Hyderabad FC from a bottom-placed side into champions.
The 2022-23 season saw Hyderabad FC again finish second in the league. They came agonizingly close of securing the League Shield, finishing just four points behind Mumbai City FC.
In fact, Marquez bettered his last season’s record, winning 13 out of 20 matches, while suffering just four defeats all season. However, their playoff journey ended in heartbreak, as they went down on penalties against Mohun Bagan SG in the semi-finals.
After Marquez parted ways with Hyderabad FC, the club has not made it to the playoffs, having finished at the bottom during 2023-24 season and second-last during 2024-25 campaign.
Both FC Goa and Hyderabad FC will definitely miss the services of Manolo Marquez as he had transformed both the struggling teams into genuine title contenders, making it to the playoffs in four out of his five seasons in the league.
