Tuesday , March 19 2024

Kerala Blasters appoint Nelo Vingada as new head coach!

Indian Super League franchise Kerala Blasters FC have announced the appointment of Eduardo Manuel Martinho Braganza de Vingada, popularly known as Nelo Vingada, as the team’s head coach till May 2019.

The Serpa-born Portuguese football coach, who started his career as a player in Portugal (1968-1980), is one of the most experienced coaches in the world. With over 36 years of coaching experience, he has trained around 20 teams in more than 10 different countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Before Kerala Blasters, his last assignment was as the head coach of the Malaysian national football team.

Vingada’s achievements include leading the Saudi Arabia national team to the 1996 AFC Asian Cup title. He also holds a unique distinction of guiding Egyptian side Zamalek FC to the championship in the Egyptian Premier League in 2003-04 without losing a single match in the season. The team also went on to win the Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup and the Arab Club Champions Cup in the same season. Later in 2010, he led FC Seoul to the K-League title. He was also on the verge of creating history once again in 2016 when Maritimo FC qualified for the finals of Portugal Premier League against Benfica.

Vingada then joined ISL rivals NorthEast United FC in 2016 to coach them in ISL-3.

Fondly known as ‘The Professor’, Vingada also has several years of experience, coaching the Portugal youth national teams. In 1995, his U-20 Portugal team ended as the 3rd placed side in the FIFA World Youth Championship.

“We are happy to welcome Nelo Vingada to Kerala Blasters. With his impressive register of achievements and years of notable expertise, we are positive that his tenure will be successful not just for the remaining season of the Hero ISL, but also for the upcoming Super Cup. We wish Nelo all the best on his new assignment,” said Nitin Kukreja, Director of Blasters Sports Ventures Private Limited, which operates Kerala Blasters FC.

“I am equally thrilled to join Kerala Blasters for the remaining of the Hero ISL season. It has always been a pleasure to work with talented Indian boys and I hope to see good results for the team in their upcoming matches,” said Vingada.

About Arunava Chaudhuri

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