Former Indian Super League (ISL) champion Bengaluru FC have decided to part ways with head coach Carles Cuadrat by mutual consent, the club announced on Wednesday.
Statement: Bengaluru FC and Carles Cuadrat have parted ways by mutual consent. #ThankYouCarles #WeAreBFC https://t.co/AjVrSuvlAb
— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) January 6, 2021
The decision comes a day after the Blues suffered their third consecutive defeat for the first time since it joined the ISL in 2017.
FULL-TIME | #BFCMCFC @MumbaiCityFC register a fourth straight #HeroISL win over @bengalurufc 👏#LetsFootball pic.twitter.com/BQRsxQss7W
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) January 5, 2021
Assistant coach Naushad Moosa will take charge as the interim coach of Bengaluru FC with immediate effect.
Interestingly, this was Cuadrat’s fifth season at the club after the 52-year-old had spent two years as an assistant to former coach Albert Roca before taking over as head coach.
Under Cuadrat, Bengaluru became the first and only team in the history of the ISL to top the table and win the ISL trophy in the same season (2018-19).
Speaking on the decision, Cuadrat said, ""I greatly appreciate the club for giving me the opportunity to be Head Coach. I would like to thank the owners and management whose vision has been excellent, players who have always been at my service, the staff that I have worked with and that have stood by my side across five seasons and the fans, who have been tremendous in their support, and without whom we could never have carved out so many beautiful nights at the Kanteerava and away.
I wish the club all the luck through the season and beyond. This club and the people associated with it will forever be in my heart."
The Spaniard holds the League record of most consecutive wins (six), unbeaten streak (eleven games) and clean sheets (eleven).
Bengaluru FC’s director Parth Jindal said: “I want to express gratitude for everything that Carles has done for this wonderful football club. In the five years he has spent with us, he has been through all the ups and downs we’ve experienced at BFC. He was around when we lost the AFC Cup final and then the ISL final, before leading us to the ISL title on that night in Mumbai.”
Meanwhile, interim coach Moosa will take over coaching duties for Bengaluru FC's next game against SC East Bengal on Saturday at the Fatorda Stadium.
Feature image courtesy: 2021 Indian Super League
