Mumbai City FC sack Manolo Marquez after winless ISL 2026-27 start
Synopsis
Mumbai City FC have cut ties with Manolo Marquez after just four matches — no wins, two defeats, two draws. The Spaniard who won the ISL Cup with Hyderabad FC and coached the Indian national team simultaneously couldn't survive the Islanders' worst-ever start to an ISL campaign.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai City FC and head coach Manolo Marquez mutually parted ways on 6 November 2026 .
The club is winless in their opening four ISL 2026-27 matches — losses to Churchill Brothers and Sporting Club Delhi , draws with Kerala Blasters and Punjab FC .
Marquez had been appointed on a one-year contract ahead of the current season.
The Spaniard previously won the ISL Cup (2021-22) with Hyderabad FC and led FC Goa to back-to-back Super Cup titles .
Mumbai City FC confirmed it will continue with its existing squad while seeking a new coaching setup.
Mumbai City FC and head coach Manolo Marquez have mutually parted ways ahead of the remainder of the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season, the club confirmed on Friday, 6 November 2026. The split follows a winless opening to the campaign that has left the Islanders without a single victory in their first four matches.
A Winless Run That Sealed the Decision
Mumbai City have failed to win any of their opening four ISL 2026-27 fixtures. The club suffered back-to-back defeats against Churchill Brothers and Sporting Club Delhi, while draws against Kerala Blasters and Punjab FC offered little consolation. The collective points tally from those four outings proved insufficient for the club's ambitions, prompting management to act.
What the Club Said
Sujay Sharma, Director of Football at Mumbai City FC, addressed the development in an official statement. 'As with every ISL club this season, we are navigating a new era for Indian football. In many ways, this marks a fresh start for the top tier of the Indian game. We brought Manolo to the club for his experience and track record in Indian football. Our focus now remains on supporting the first team and achieving our objectives for the ongoing season. Further updates on the squad and coaching setup will be communicated through the club's official channels in due course,' Sharma said. The club added that neither party would make any further public comment on the matter.
Marquez's Track Record in Indian Football
Marquez, a Spanish coach who had been appointed on a one-year contract ahead of the current season, brought considerable pedigree to the role. He joined the Indian football circuit in 2020 and guided Hyderabad FC to their maiden major honour — the ISL Cup in the 2021-22 season. After three years with the Nizams, he moved to FC Goa, where he delivered back-to-back Super Cup titles and steered the club through an AFC Champions League Two campaign. Concurrently, he served as head coach of the Indian national team, becoming one of the rare coaches to simultaneously manage both a club and their country's senior side. His managerial career stretches back to 2002, with stints across Spain, Croatia, and Thailand before his India chapter.
What Happens Next for Mumbai City
The club confirmed it will continue competing with its existing squad while exploring options to strengthen the setup in the coming days. This comes amid a broader transition in Indian football, with the ISL described by club management as entering a 'new era.' Mumbai City FC, historically one of the league's more ambitious outfits, will now seek a replacement who can reverse the early-season slide. The search for a new head coach is expected to be communicated through official channels, with the club's next ISL fixture serving as the immediate benchmark for the interim setup.
Point of View
Two Super Cups, and a simultaneous national team role speak for themselves. What appears to have failed is the fit between his methods and a squad that may not have been built to execute them. The club's framing of this as part of 'a new era for Indian football' is thin cover for a messy exit. The bigger risk now is a coaching carousel that destabilises the squad further at exactly the wrong moment in the season.
NationPress
6 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Mumbai City FC sack Manolo Marquez?
Mumbai City FC parted ways with Manolo Marquez after the club failed to win any of their first four matches in the 2026-27 ISL season, suffering defeats to Churchill Brothers and Sporting Club Delhi while drawing with Kerala Blasters and Punjab FC. The club cited the disappointing start as the reason for the mutual separation.
Who is Manolo Marquez and what did he achieve in Indian football?
Manolo Marquez is a Spanish coach who joined Indian football in 2020. He won the ISL Cup with Hyderabad FC in 2021-22, delivered back-to-back Super Cup titles with FC Goa, and also served simultaneously as the head coach of the Indian national team — a rare dual role in Indian football.
What will Mumbai City FC do next after Marquez's departure?
The club has confirmed it will continue competing with the existing squad and is looking to strengthen the setup in the coming days. An announcement on the new coaching arrangement is expected through the club's official channels.
How many games into the ISL season did the sacking happen?
The parting was confirmed after just four matches of the 2026-27 ISL season, making it one of the earliest coaching changes in the league's recent history.
What did Mumbai City FC's Director of Football say about the split?
Sujay Sharma, Director of Football at Mumbai City FC, said the club was 'navigating a new era for Indian football' and that the focus remains on 'supporting the first team and achieving our objectives for the ongoing season,' without elaborating further on the specifics of the parting.
