ISL: Mumbai City part ways with former India head coach Manolo Marquez

MUMBAI: The official announcement arrived on Friday morning, but Manolo Marquez’s departure as head coach of Mumbai City FC seemed inevitable even as one watched him storm off the pitch and down the tunnel at the Mumbai Football Arena last Sunday.

The bitterness of having just seen his side let a 2-0 lead turn into a dramatic 3-2 stoppage-time defeat to Sporting Club Delhi, in their first home match of the Indian Super League season, had been too much for the Spaniard to process.

And as he disappeared into the tunnel, it only served to reinforce the pre-match rumours that his first home game as Islanders boss was very likely set to be his last.

Mumbai City FC confirms that the club and Manolo Márquez have agreed to part ways for the remainder of the MG ISL 2026/27 season,” read the club’s statement on Friday.

Cracks in the relationship had already begun to appear, as the two-time champions stood winless from their first three games ahead of Delhi’s visit. Still, it was not so much the results but a mounting injury list that would lead to Marquez becoming increasingly frustrated over the uncertainty of any reinforcements arriving.