MARGAO
Former Gokulam FC coach Santiago Varela is set to join Churchill Brothers FC as the head coach for the upcoming I-League season.
The 47-year-old had made an instant impression at the Kozhikode-based club as under Vaela’s guidance, Gokulam created history last year by winning the Durand Cup, defeating heavyweights Mohun Bagan in the final in Kolkata.
It was Varela’s first assignment in his second term as Gokulam Kerala head coach. He had a brief stint with Gokulam in the 2018-19 season but was released from the club on request due to personal reasons before the I-League season started. He was with the team for two months during the pre-season training.
Varela returned for a second term in last July, taking over from Gift Raikhan. However, he parted ways with the club after the contract negotiations failed.
Varela will replace Portuguese coach Bernardo Tavares at Churchill Brothers. The Red Machines had roped in Tavares last season after their Ghanaian coach Edward Ansah could not get clearance from the Asian Football Confederation.
After a promising start, Churchill lost their way and finished eighth with 20 points in the I-League. Tavares was sacked before the end of the campaign, which was eventually cut short when the league was called off due to Covid-19 pandemic.
