Odisha FC have announced the departure of head coach Josep Gombau from the club after two seasons at the helm.
The 43-year old Spanish coach joined the club in the 2018-19 season when the club was known as Delhi Dynamos FC. After a mediocre start to the season, Josep led the club to an eighth place finish. The following season – which is the recently concluded ISL 2019-20 season, the club was rebranded as Odisha FC and moved to Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
They finished just outside the play-off positions in sixth place after giving a right go for the play-off spot. However, injury to star striker Aridane Santana resulted in the club’s form tapering off towards the end of the season.
The club statement indicated that Josep Gombau and Odisha FC parted ways due to the coach’s familial obligations. Josep who was a former youth team coach at Espanyol and Barcelona before joining Delhi Dynamos/Odisha FC will be remembered for his attractive passing style of play which saw them create a lot of chances. However, a lack of a proper forward in the first season and injury to Aridane Santana in the second scuttled their chances of making it to the play-offs.
Some things in life are more important than football. I’d like to thank Coach Gombau and his coaching staff from the bottom of my heart for all that they have done for the club. The whole coaching staff was such a positive influence for the club. No matter where they all go in life they will always have a home in Odisha!
Rohan Sharma, President, Odisha FC.
It wasn’t an easy decision to make. I have enjoyed my time at Odisha and I am proud of what I built there. It is with some regret that I can’t finish what I started, but I will always be rooting for the success of Odisha FC.
Josep Gombau
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