Latest

ISL 2026-27: Mumbai City FC appoints Ashvir Singh Johal as head coach

The club has named Ashvir Singh Johal as its head coach for the rest of the Indian Super League season.

Apex Sports News graphic: ISL 2026-27: Mumbai City FC appoints Ashvir Singh Johal as head coach
Photo: Apex Sports News graphic

Mumbai City FC has appointed Ashvir Singh Johal as head coach for the remainder of ISL 2026-27. He replaces Manolo Marquez after the team recorded two draws and two losses and sat 11th in the 13-team table.

Key takeaways

  • Mumbai City FC appointed Ashvir Singh Johal as head coach for the rest of ISL 2026-27
  • The club announced the appointment on Saturday
  • Johal replaces Manolo Marquez following a poor start to the season
  • Mumbai City recorded two draws and two losses and were 11th in the 13-team table
  • Johal holds the UEFA Pro Licence

Mumbai City FC has appointed Ashvir Singh Johal as its head coach for the remainder of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season, the club announced on Saturday. The Islanders parted ways with Spaniard Manolo Marquez after their poor start to the season, where they recorded two draws and two losses, leaving them 11th in the 13-team table.

Why it matters

Born in Leicester, England, Johal began his footballing journey as both a player and coach at his local non-league club, Guru Nanak Gurdwara FC.

He subsequently joined Leicester City’s academy, where he spent ten years coaching across the youth development system, working with players up to the Under-18 level.

In the 2022–23 season, Johal moved into senior first-team coaching as Assistant Coach to Kolo Touré at Wigan Athletic, gaining experience in the English Championship.

He then joined Como in Italy, where he worked as Assistant Coach to Cesc Fabregas with the club’s Primavera setup during the 2023–24 season.

Johal subsequently took charge of Notts County’s B team between 2024 and 2025, before being appointed head coach of Morecambe FC in 2025. At Morecambe, he became the youngest head coach in the top five divisions of English football.

He holds the UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification awarded by UEFA. Speaking about joining the club, Johal said, “I look forward to working closely with the players, coaching staff and everyone at the Club. ”

What happens next

Johal will lead Mumbai City FC for the remainder of the ISL 2026-27 season.

Sources

Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or use the flag button above. Our editorial standards explain how we report.

Discussion

Sign in or create a free account to join the discussion. Please follow our community guidelines.