Guwahati-based NorthEast United FC has appointed Israeli national Marco Balbul as their head coach, the club announced on August 11.
Marco Balbul becomes the 10th head coach of NEUFC in its nine-year history.
The Guwahati-based ISL side were the last club to confirm their head coach ahead of the new season. The top coaching position was vacant since the departure of coach Khalid Jamil who joined I-league second division club FC Bengaluru United.
Struggling for consistency, NorthEast United FC will look up to Marco Balbul for a fresh start. The 55-year-old Israeli tactician last worked as assistant manager for the Israel national team. Earlier, he was associated with Maccabi Haifa FC as their manager from 2018 to 2020.
During his less than 2-year stay at Maccabi Haifa, the team from Israel won 40 of the 65 matches played under manager Marco Balbul’s leadership while drawing another 13.
For NorthEast United, the change in leadership was in the making as head coach Khalid Jamil left the club after another disappointing season. Under Jamil’s leadership, NorthEast United FC finished 10th in the league last season. The team conceded the league’s joint highest number of goals last season of the ISL.
