The Former India international coached ISL club NorthEast United FC for two years, the last season as head coach.
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Khalid Jamil has been appointed as the head coach of FC Bengaluru United, an I-League Division II side, for the upcoming season. The 46-year-old was previously associated with Indian super League (ISL) club NorthEast United FC. He has also worked with some of the big guns in Indian football, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, and also coached Aizawl FC to their maiden I-League triumph in the 2016-17 season. He is one of the leading coaches in the country and it’s a surprise that the I-League winner has been forced to return to lower rungs of Indian football to keep his managerial career going.
A look behind the scenes of what went down at the signing! ⚡⚽#FCBU #UnitedWeClimb #WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/scLYLtaGDj
— FC Bengaluru United (@bengaluruunited) May 30, 2022
“Khalid has been one of the most sought-after coaches in Indian football,” said Gaurav Manchanda, owner, FC Bengaluru United. “He brings with him nuanced leadership and technical skills that stem for his decade-long management and coaching experience. FC Bengaluru United is on an upward growth trajectory; we are excited to be working with Khalid and are confident that we will see the club reach even greater heights under him,” he added.
Speaking on his appointment, Jamil said, “The FCBU squad is a blend of youth and experience, and I am eager to work with them and sharing all my learnings. I am confident we can work together and see the club reach its greatest potential both from an individual player perspective as well as a team.” Khalid has a knack of spotting talent and he is undoubtedly one of the best football coaches in the country. It could be a jackpot for the FCBU.
Khalid took charge of NEUFC in the middle of the 2020-21 season after the club decided to part ways with Gerard Nus. He did a very impressive job to lead the Highlanders to their best finish in the league. NEUFC finished third and had it not been for a missed penalty in the semi-final, they could have very well made their first appearance in an ISL final. As a reward for his heroics, the club management handed Khalid the reins, and he became the first permanent Indian head coach in the league. But things didn’t go well for the Highlanders in the following season.
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NEUFC finished at the 10th spot in the 11-team league in the 2021-22 ISL season. Apart from on-field issues there were off-field problems as Khalid said the new technical director treated him like a ‘dirt’ and much more. Meanwhile Khalid also had countless altercations with key international players in the squad on various occasions, as reported by Khel Now. Khalid led Aizawl FC to its maiden I-League triumph in 2017. He played a key role in the development of several Indian players. The likes of Albino Gomes, Jayesh Rane, Ashutosh Mehta who were part of the I-League winning side, went on to make it to the top tier of Indian football.
