ISL 2017/18: Delhi Dynamos add Spanish flavour to their newly installed coaching line-up
Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos FC has roped in the Spanish duo of Gonzalo Yarza and Martin Ruiz as the assistant coach and the goalkeeping coach respectively for the coming season of the ISL. The two will work alongside head coach Miguel Angel Portugal and the team’s Indian assistant coach Shakti Chauhan.
58-year old Yarza comes on the back of more than 20 years of experience of working in the backroom staff for various European clubs. The Spanish coach spent close to a decade with his hometown club Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Premiera Division as the head of Physical Training and Methodology of the football club. He also spent 5 years as a player with the Basque side.
Martin meanwhile has previously had spells in China with Shanghai Shenxin and Henan Jianye as the club’s goalkeeping coach. The 44-year old was also part of the coaching staff for ISL side Mumbai City FC back in 2015.
The new season will mark Shakti Chauhan’s fourth year as the Indian assistant coach of Delhi Dynamos. The 37-year old is an AFC A-License Coach and has previously been involved with the TATA Football Academy, where he led the junior side to the U-19 I-League title. Chauhan is a former Gujarat Santosh Trophy head coach and was the assistant for the Indian U-16 girls team that took part in the AFC U-16 Women’s Asia Cup 2013 qualifiers.
“I’ve got a strong and an experienced group of coaches for the coming season. Martin has worked in the ISL and with Albino before so it will be easy for him to restart his work. Gonzalo has worked with a top Spanish side for many years and his experience will come in handy for both me and the team. Shakti’s presence in the dugout will help the Indian players a lot,” Delhi Dynamos Head Coach Miguel Angel Portugal said.
“The Club is happy to welcome Coach Yarza and Coach Ruiz to the Delhi Dynamos this year. Coach Yarza brings a lot of experience to the club having been a coach for multiple La Liga clubs and will compliment Coach Portugal perfectly. Coach Ruiz is a familiar face to the league having been a goalkeeping coach for Mumbai city FC. I'm happy to reunite Albino and Coach Ruiz together again so Coach Ruiz can further Albinos development along with Sukhdev and Arnab. Along with Coach Shakti who has been the longest tenured coach for the club we have the perfect coaching staff to make an impact on the league this year,” Delhi Dynamos Director Rohan Sharma shared his thoughts on the new coaching staff.