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ISL: Former goalie key to solving Atletico de Kolkata’s ‘keeper puzzle
For the third season, Kolkata will have new goalies and a lot could hinge on whether Molina’s experience helps him choose the right man for the job.
The only time an international goalkeeper managed an Indian Super League (ISL) team was in 2014, David James taking Kerala Blasters to the final.
Atletico de Kolkata’s (ATK’s) Jose Molina, who has played nine times as goalkeeper for Spain and 189 games for Atletico Madrid, almost echoed former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi who once said he didn’t know that to be a good jockey, you first needed to be a horse. After ending the first three answers with variations of hoping for a winning start, Molina, 46, said it didn’t matter as a coach whether one had been a striker or a shot-stopper.
“I learnt a lot when I was a player and I am trying to teach some of that. I think, no, I am sure that I have prepared well for my role (as a coach),” said Molina, who won a domestic treble with Hong Kong’s Kitchee FC, in Kolkata on Saturday.
International goalies usually take charge of goalkeepers at a club or the national team after retirement. Or, become pundits. Or football administrators like Andoni Zubizarreta and Lev Yashin. Michel Prued’homme, who won the Belgian league last season with Club Brugge, Dino Zoff and Walter Zenga are some exceptions to the rule. This season, there isn’t a team in the Premiership, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga helmed by a former international goalie.
For the third season, ATK will have new goalies and a lot could hinge on whether Molina’s experience helps him choose the right man for the job. The ISL is also about balancing six imports and five Indians. Should Molina opt for Mohun Bagan’s Debjit Majumder, he can play an extra foreigner in the outfield. But with injured central midfielder Otentse Nato doubtful, Molina may use an Indian next to skipper Borja Fernandez as defensive midfielders and opt for Spanish goalie Dani Mallo, 37, because Majumder played only 129 minutes for Mumbai City FC in ISL 2. The third goalie, Shilton Paul, had even less game time.
Like with keepers, ATK will also have to adjust to the pitch, going into their opener with only one training session there. Speaking after Molina, Chennaiyin FC coach Marco Materazzi, who trained there on Saturday morning, said he was happy with the ground. Defender Dhanachandra Singh is doubtful due to injury and Italian striker Davide Succi is suspended from the opener like Materazzi was last term but the coach seemed happy in general.
Should the champions start with a win on the road like in 2014, it would stay that way. Things could be different if ATK notch up a hat-trick of opening game victories.
