Spanish plenary session in Indian soccer

The 2019/20 season will be remembered in India as the one in which Spanish soccer players and coaches monopolized the successes of local soccer. Fernando Valera's Gokulam won the Durand Cup, FC Goa and ATK dominated the Super League (ISL) and Mohun Bagan of Kibu Vicuña made history proclaiming himself champion of the I-League with four days to go.

The course started with the Durand Cup dispute, the oldest tournament in Asia and one of the oldest on the planet football (It was founded in 1888). A championship that ended up raising Gokulam, a team led by the Spanish-Argentine coach Fernando Valera, who beat Mohun Bagan of Kibu Vicuña in the final. A Mohun Bagan who could not remove the thorn in the First Division of Calcutta – finished second – but who, nevertheless, raised the I-League four days in advance. The sailors chained 14 games without losing -National record- supported by three Spanish footballers: Cordovan centerbacker Fran Morante, 'Pichichi' Fran González and Joseba Beitia, who scored five goals and gave 17 assists.

The Super League, the highest category of Hindu football, also had a large Spanish role. The regular season fell into the hands of FC Goa, making it the first Indian club to claim a place in the group stage of the AFC Champions League. Carlos Peña, Edu Bedía and Ferrán Corominas, author of 14 goals this year, played a fundamental role. Zaragoza coach Sergio Lobera was removed in the absence of three days, when the team was co-leader and depended on himself to proclaim himself champion. The assistants Manu Sayabera and Jesús Rodríguez left with him.

The 'play-offs' of the Asian championship also fell into Spanish hands. And it was ATK, a team led by Antonio López Habas, who ended up conquering the ISL. Chennaiyin was measured in the final and they won 3-1 with full of Spanish goals: The Salamanca midfielder Javi Hernández, who had not seen a goal during the season, signed a double and Edu García scored the same. Although they did not score, Agus García, Víctor Mongil, Mandi Sosa were also protagonists on the pitch. The assistant Manu Cascallana, the goalkeeper coach Ángel Hernández, the physical trainer Álvaro Ros and the physical therapist Luis Alfonso accompanied López Habas on the bench.