The 45-year-oldcoached ISL club NorthEast United FC for two years, the last season as head coach and helped them qualify for the semi-finals if Indian Super League in the 2020-21 season.
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Khalid Jamil who became the first Indian coach to take charge of an Indian Super League (ISL) side, is all set to helm Benglauru United FC, an I-League division II club. According to a recent report by The Telegraph, the 45-year-old tactician is likely to sign a one year deal with the club. In early May, news on social media had claimed that Bengaluru United were set to bring in Khalid, in their quest to qualify for the I-League. The Former Indian international coached ISL club NorthEast United FC for two years, the last season as head coach. 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.
Khalid Jamil, the former head coach of #NorthEastUnited, has confirmed his switch to FC Bengaluru United of the 2nd tier of #ILeague.?✍?
via: @ZiddharthSaxena #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/FwBrDTc1Mw
— Superpower Football (@SuperpowerFb) May 28, 2022
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 wining side, went on to make it to the top tier of Indian football.
Rane won the ISL title with Chennaiyin FC in 2015, while Mehta rose to become one of the best defenders in the country and is currently part of the national team preparing for the AFC Asian Cup third round qualifiers. Gomes is currently with 2022 ISL finalists Kerala Blasters FC and has 38 ISL appearances to his name. Khalid has a knack of spotting talent and he is undoubtedly one of the best football coaches in the country. As for Bengaluru Untied, who have not made any official announcement, it could be a jackpot.
