Carlos Pena returns to Goa as head coach
Goa has appointed Carlos Pena as the new head coach of the Gaurs after Juan Ferrando left the club midway during the 2021-22 Indian Super League season.
The former La Liga defender is delighted to be back with the Gaurs and cited it as an easy decision despite having other offers on the table.
He said,
“I am delighted to be back at FC Goa as the head coach. It was a very easy decision. And whilst there were offers for me to choose a bigger role in Albacete and in other clubs in Spain, the offer to take charge of FC Goa was too good to pass on.
After a successful playing career, Pena moved into coaching beginning with the youth teams of Lorca and Murcia before taking on the head coach position of the Albacete Balompie youth team.
The youth team broke several records in goalscoring in the Juvenil League that included formidable results like holding Atletico Madrid to a draw and gaining a double over opponents Villareal.
“Having served as an assistant coach and head coach of youth teams over the past two seasons, I believe this is the perfect opportunity for me. Everyone knows my love for this club and the history that we share. My only focus now is to get FC Goa back to the top. I’m here to work hard and bring more success to the club and I can’t wait to get started.”
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FC Goa President Akshay Tandon has also welcomed the Spaniard on board and is delighted about the appointment of a club icon to turn around the team’s fortunes after a horrid 2021-22 ISL season.
“We are very pleased to welcome Carlos Peña to FC Goa as our head coach. Carlos is a leader and a real student of the game. He has a wealth of knowledge and a great understanding of the club and our philosophy of football. He has done an amazing job at Albacete in his first season as head coach, nurturing the youth at the club. We hope that he will continue to do so for us.”
Tandon feels that it is the perfect time for the new head coach to step in and vowed to support Pena to bring successful times back to the club.
“After 2 years with us as a player, during which he became a club icon, we believe this is the perfect time for him to return and are delighted he has done so. We will do our utmost to make sure he and his whole coaching team have the support he needs to be a huge success..”
Pena was part of the Goa team that won the Super Cup in 2019 and the ISL League Winners’ Shield in 2020 and would be hoping to bring back the success achieved by former head coach Sergio Lobera with the Gaurs.