GUWAHATI: NorthEast United FC has appointed Khalid Jamil as the club’s head coach, making the experienced campaigner the first Indian to be manage a Hero Indian Super League franchise.
Jamil, 44, guided the Highlanders to the semi-finals of the ISL after taking over in an interim capacity from Gerard Nus last season. Jamil oversaw a remarkable reversal of fortunes last season as the team, after a spate of defeats, made the last four following an unbeaten nine-match run.
Jamil joined NEUFC as an assistant coach ahead of the 2019-20 season.
former midfielder and well respected football coach , Jamil has coached the likes of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. His biggest success story though came at Aizawl FC, guiding the Mizoram club to a stunning I-League triumph in 2017.
He had previously coached the now defunct I-League side Mumbai FC for seven years, keeping the club afloat in the (then) top tier of Indian football (this was before the ISL emerged as the country’s de facto premier league).
Born in Kuwait to Indian parents, Jamil was a midfielder in his playing days and represented clubs like Mahindra United, Air India and Mumbai FC. He also had offers from Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. He also played for the Indian national team.
The Highlanders kick off their next ISL campaign on November 20 against 2018-19 champions Bengaluru FC at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa.
