Kolkata: East Bengal today unveiled Wednesday, the I-League-winning Khalid Jamil as their head coach for the upcoming season even as uncertainty remained around the structure of India’s football calendar for 2017-18.
A former India international who won the SAFF Cup in his debut season in 1997, Jamil had been at the helm of Mumbai FC for seven seasons but his moment of glory came when he guided Aizawl FC to their maiden I-League title in a path-breaking last season.
East Bengal, who are yet to win the coveted I-League, wasted little time in striking a deal for a rumoured salary of Rs 1.25 crore, making him the highest-paid coach in Indian football.
“Honestly I did not want to leave Aizawl FC but Nituda (assistant secretary Debabrata Sarkar) convinced me and said you must join East Bengal,” Jamil told reporters in his first media interaction at the club.
“I won the I-League with Aizawl FC and I thought it’s time for me to take up the challenge to a next level. East Bengal are a bigger club and there will be pressure. I’m looking forward to the challenge. The first target is to win my opening match and go step by step from there,” added Jamil.
The red-and-gold have already signed a number of players including Lalramchullova, Mahmoud Al Amna and Brandon Vanlalremdika, all part of Aizawl’s title-winning run and they will be reuniting with Jamil.
Press Trust of India
