Interview with newly appointed EB coach Marcos Falopa: “I want to make East Bengal I-League champions”

Marcos Falopa: “I hope too that the fans will be patient and show their support throughout because together we can make this club successful and that too in style”

You wouldn’t find too many much travelled coaches than East Bengal’s newly-appointed head coach Marcos Falopa as the Brazilian has had jobs in five different continents. A UEFA Pro License holder, Falopa has been coaching for 36 years now, including spells as technical director of South Africa at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Brazilian club Santos, where Neymar’s father also trained under him.

However, it was surely his coaching experience in Asia that landed him the job at East Bengal as he has been in charge of some top clubs in the Middle East and was also the head coach of the Myanmar national team.

But he could have been in charge of East Bengal much earlier as he had an offer from the red-and-gold brigade five years ago. So what went wrong? We asked him in an exclusive interview a few hours after his official appointment.

“Well I had talks back then but I was committed to the Myanmar national team and wanted to continue the project there. I also recently had discussions with Mohun Bagan to take over as the technical director of their academy but that eventually didn’t materialise. I am delighted to be joining East Bengal now and look forward to a successful spell,” Falopa told Sportskeeda on the phone from Brazil.

Falopa admits that he would still have to do some homework about Indian football but is well aware of East Bengal’s achievements in the last three years under Trevor James Morgan.

“I won’t talk much about the style of play because I would first have to look at my squad and then decide accordingly. I know East Bengal were very consistent last season but I want to make them I-League champions and even progress further in the AFC Cup, where I believe they have reached the quarter-finals,” he opined.

The 64-year-old came to India with the Myanmar national team for the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, where his team lost to the hosts in the semi-finals in almost unplayable conditions at Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Stadium.

Recalling that game, he said, “Yes the conditions were very difficult to play beautiful football that day. The weather also was quite hot and humid and I believe it will be the same in Kolkata as well but I really enjoyed the hospitality.”

Falopa has also been FIFA instructor for 17 years now and thus the vastly experienced coach is not worried about the amount of pressure that is there on an East Bengal coach, however he does hope for unconditional support from the fans throughout.

“I have coached so many players from different countries and generations. Therefore I know very well that pressure is part of being a football coach and especially for a big club like East Bengal as they have so many supporters around the world. I would try to give my best but I hope too that the fans will be patient and show their support throughout because together we can make this club successful and that too in style,” Falopa opined.

Falopa with Robinho (C) and Pato at AC Milan

Falopa, who also has Italian citizenship and last worked in Italy, also confirmed that he was actually the assistant coach of the Brazil masters’ team (a team comprising retired Brazil stars) between 1986 and 1988 and not the Brazilian national team.

“Yes I was associated with the masters’ team as an assistant coach and I am still in touch with many Brazilian greats. I am also still in touch with Neymar’s father and delighted that his son has already had a good career,” he said.

Falopa and his son Americo, who will be the goalkeeping coach and physical trainer, are expected to be in Kolkata for the pre-season training by the middle of July.