Kalim News, September 30, 2024, Kolkata: Carlos Cuadrat has officially resigned as the head coach of East Bengal Club following a disappointing start to the season.
Under Cuadrat’s leadership, East Bengal ended a 12-year trophy drought by winning the Super Cup last year. The team also managed to defeat their long-time rivals, Mohun Bagan, in the Durand Cup group stage after eight consecutive derby losses. However, they ultimately finished as runners-up in the competition, losing to Mohun Bagan in the final.
This season, East Bengal, in partnership with investor Emami, invested heavily to assemble a competitive squad, signing Indian stars like Jackson Singh and Anwar Ali for approximately 6 crore rupees. Additionally, they brought in high-profile players such as last year’s golden boot winner, Diamantaks, and Madhi Talal. Despite these efforts, the team struggled, losing all three of their opening matches.
Following a recent home defeat to Goa FC, fan frustration boiled over, with chants of “go back” directed at Cuadrat during the match. This marks East Bengal’s worst performance since the 2020-21 season.
The decision for Cuadrat’s resignation was made after discussions between the Emami East Bengal board and the coach. In the interim, Bino George will take over head coaching duties.
Shri Bivas Aggarwal from the Emami Group commented, “Carlos Cuadrat led the team to the Super Cup championship last year and coached us to a runner-up position in the Durand Cup. Under his guidance, we qualified for international competitions like the AFC Cup. We wish him a bright future on behalf of the club.”
Sources indicate that former Bengaluru FC coach Simon Gration is poised to take over as East Bengal’s new head coach, having led his previous team to the finals of three competitions in one season. However, no official announcement has been made regarding this appointment yet.