Renedy Singh Optimistic About Future of Indian Football Under Manolo Marquez

Renedy Singh, the former captain of the Indian football team, expresses optimism about the national team's future under coach Manolo Marquez. During his visit to Guwahati, he emphasized the need for patience in building a strong team and praised the Under-19 squad for their recent SAFF Championship victory. Renedy also highlighted the importance of focusing on youth development and the potential of Indian football. With Bengaluru FC aiming for the ISL title next season, he remains committed to contributing to the growth of football in Assam and the Northeast region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 3, 2025, 18:49 IST

Renedy Singh's Insights on Indian Football

Guwahati, June 3: Renedy Singh, a former captain of the Indian football team, is confident that the national squad is in good hands with Manuel Manolo Marquez at the helm.

Currently an assistant coach at Bengaluru FC, Renedy, who holds an AFC Pro Licence, visited Guwahati to scout for promising Under-19 players from Assam.

Having represented India for over 13 years from 1998 to 2011, he commended Marquez’s coaching style and experience, expressing hope that the Spaniard would be allowed sufficient time to develop a robust team.

"Manolo is an excellent coach. I've observed his contributions to Indian football over the years. Given time, I believe we will see positive results," Renedy stated during a discussion.

The Indian team is presently in Thailand for a training camp under Marquez's leadership, gearing up for a friendly match on June 4, followed by a vital AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match in Hong Kong on June 10.

Since taking charge in July 2024, Marquez has managed six matches, with India securing only one victory against the Maldives (3-0) in a friendly. The team faced a defeat against Syria (0-3), while the other matches ended in draws.

Recent disappointing outcomes, including losses to lower-ranked teams like Afghanistan prior to Marquez's arrival, have led to increased scrutiny from fans and analysts.

Despite this, Renedy remains hopeful. "We cannot expect immediate transformations. Coaches require time to build a team. If Manolo is given a long-term role, Indian football will thrive," he remarked.

Shifting focus to youth football, Renedy praised the Under-19 team for winning the SAFF Championship but cautioned against complacency.

"It's fantastic that the boys have triumphed, especially with some from our academy. However, we must not become overconfident after defeating Bangladesh. Our goal should be to compete with teams like Japan and Korea," he noted.

He added, "I advised the boys to celebrate their victory but remain focused. Under Bibiano Fernandes’ guidance, I am confident they will continue to develop."

Renedy also acknowledged Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, who has recently come out of international retirement.

"Sunil continues to score at 40. He netted 15 goals in the ISL this season — a feat not many Indian players achieve. Even if he plays only 30–40 minutes, his impact can be significant," he said.

Looking forward to the upcoming ISL season, Renedy expressed Bengaluru FC's ambition to improve upon their previous performance. "We reached the final this season but fell short. Our goal now is to clinch the ISL title, and we are already working towards that," he stated.

He also praised fellow Indian coach Khalid Jamil of Jamshedpur FC, the only Indian head coach in the ISL.

"Khalid has done an impressive job — from Mumbai FC to leading Aizawl FC to an I-League title, and now with Jamshedpur. His journey is inspiring and will motivate more Indian coaches to aspire for greatness," he remarked.

Renedy's visit to Guwahati was part of a talent scouting initiative, where promising Under-19 players were selected from the 70th Bordoloi Trophy to train in Spain.

Expressing his eagerness to contribute to the development of football in the Northeast, he stated, "I am always willing to assist in the growth of football in Assam. The region holds immense potential."