After FC Goa exit, coach Sergio Lobera settles for Mumbai City

PANAJI: Sergio Lobera will be back in India but that’s not really a surprise.
Sacked with FC Goa at the top of the table and just three matches left to be played in the Indian Super League (ISL), Lobera’s stellar record during his time in Goa made him a top-choice for many clubs here. Kerala Blasters FC made an initial approach and then opted out of the fray. There was some interest from Jamshedpur FC as well. But it is Mumbai City FC who have found favour.Given City Football Group’s investment, they seem tailor-made for each other.
"It’s a done deal. The coach has already submitted a list of players that he is keen to have with him at Mumbai. While there is no compulsion on Mumbai to sign whoever he recommends, those that are tried and tested here will surely find favour," a senior official told TOI on Tuesday.
It is no secret that Lobera had his own favourites at FC Goa. Midfielder Ahmed Jahouh and defender Mourtada Fall, both of whom played under the Spanish coach earlier in their careers and then joined him at Goa, are likely to be tempted with offers by Mumbai. While there are differences over the length of Jahouh’s contract, Fall remains undecided.
With midfielder Paulo Machado the only foreign player retained so far – thanks to his two-year contract -- Mumbai are also looking at some Spanish players with City group’s intention of winning trophies on debut there for all to see.
At Mumbai, Lobera will be joined by his trusted conditioning coach and friend Manuel Sayabera. The two have worked together for more than a decade since their time at Terrassa FC in 2008.
Mumbai parted ways with Portuguese coach Jorge Costa after two years at the helm of affairs. In his first season, Mumbai lost to Goa in the semifinals and then missed out on a playoff spot by a whisker, finishing fifth in the league.
Lobera, on the other hand, has a hugely-impressive record with FC Goa since joining them in 2017 at a time when the team, under Brazilian legend Zico, had finished at the bottom of the ISL table in 2016. Lobera guided Goa to a semifinal appearance in the first season, final in the second and also won the Super Cup, the club’s first trophy.
This season it had seemed even smoother sailing with Goa at the top of the ISL table until the Spanish coach was sacked with just three league matches left to be played.
Under Lobera, Goa played a much-loved attractive brand of football which won fans over. Goa scored the highest number of goals for the last two seasons with Spanish striker Ferran Corominas finishing with the Golden Boot for two successive years.