Odisha FC has appointed former Indian Super League (ISL) League Shield and title winner Sergio Lobera as their new head coach.
The Spaniard, who has earlier coached FC Goa and Mumbai City FC in the ISL, will look to guide Odisha FC to even greater heights after a successful outing for the club during the 2022-23 season.
The Eastern Dragons qualified for the ISL playoffs for the first time since its beginning and later ended the season by winning the Super Cup, which is also the first silverware for the club.
“Odisha FC is delighted to confirm the appointment of experienced Spanish tactician Sergio Lobera on a 2-year deal,” the club said in a statement.
“This development marks a new chapter for Odisha FC, as they aim to elevate their status next season having won the recently concluded Hero Super Cup and securing a spot in the AFC Cup Group Stage,” it added.
Lobera, 46, is no stranger to Indian football, having spent four seasons in the ISL and had joined FC Goa in 2017, guiding them to the ISL playoffs on all three occasions during his time with the club.
Meanwhile, he also won the Super Cup in 2019 and a season later, helped the club clinch the League Shield before moving to City Football Group-owned Mumbai City FC ahead of the ISL 2020-21 season and achieved even more success with the Islanders.
Under him, MCFC secured the League Shield and the ISL title that season and became the first club to achieve the double.
After a successful season in India, Lobera took up a new challenge with fellow City Football Group side and Chinese club Sichuan Jiuniu. This will be Lobera’s third stint in India and having made a name for himself in India, Odisha FC will be confident of challenging for top honours under his tutelage.