Who Can Replace Owen Coyle as Chennaiyin FC Head Coach?

After three seasons, Owen Coyle has mutually decided to part ways with Chennaiyin FC. Owen Coyle’s time as Chennaiyin FC head coach has been a mix of resilience and inconsistency. He was at the helm of the Indian Super League (ISL) side for 68 games, where he managed to maintain a decent average of 1.5 points per match. His maiden season in India was outstanding as he joined Chennaiyin FC mid-season, taking over from John Gregory in 2019.

A Brief Look at Owen Coyle’s Stint in India

In his first spell with Chennaiyin FC, Own Coyle went on to take them to the ISL Finals and completely changed the trajectory of the club since his takeover. The former Bolton Wanderer and Burnley manager then joined Jamshedpur FC, where he went on to lift the ISL Shield, creating history. After two seasons at Jamshedpur, Coyle became the coach of Queens Park Rangers.
Owen Coyle made a return to India with Chennaiyin FC, but injuries and a series of inconsistent performances marred his second spell. Chennaiyin somehow made a late comeback in the 2023/24 season and propelled themselves into the top six. But last season ended in a disaster after the Marina Machans couldn’t even make it to the ISL playoffs.

Many believe that the uncertainty around the future of ISL due to MRA extension and a delayed pre-season acted as a catalyst for the Irish’s departure from Chennai. Amidst Owen’s departure from Chennai dispute, having a year left in his contract, Chennaiyin FC are planning to start afresh and revamp their team ahead of the new season. Let us take a close look at the best possible candidates to replace Owen Coyle and take Chennai back to their old golden days.

Top 5 potential candidates for Chennaiyin FC Head Coach role

Here are five potential tacticians who can replace Owen Coyle as Chennaiyin FC head coach:

Thomas Brdaric

A proven name in the Indian Super League, Brdraic’s homecoming as Chennaiyin FC head coach is long-awaited. He has previously managed the club in the 2022-23 season, where the Marina Machans impressed a lot with their footballing style and flair. They were just a win away from making it to the ISL playoffs, but destiny had different plans. The German gaffer’s prior experience in the Indian subcontinent and adaptability to the hot and humid Chennai climate make him an ideal replacement. He knows the inside and outside of the club very well and may help to maintain that continuity. Many fans have also called for the reappointment of Brdaric.
He is a proven winner and has won back-to-back Albanian Cups with KF Vllaznia. His attacking pressing style of football and his ability to develop a strong bond with his players make him a perfect option to take over the reins of Chennaiyin FC. His contract with KF Vllaznia has expired recently, and a move to India could be on the cards.

Antonio Lopez Habas

A club like Chennaiyin FC might look up to someone like Antonio Lopez Habas to replace Owen Coyle at the helm. After all, the Spaniard is one of the most successful coaches in the history of ISL, winning trophies with ATK and Mohun Bagan. Habas is currently the head coach of Inter Kashi and has an existing contract. He has also reportedly applied for the role of Indian football team head coach. If Inter Kashi fails to secure a promotion to the ISL, Chennai could be a good option for Habas to prove his mettle in the Indian top flight. His knowledge of Indian football is unarguably the best, as he is one of the few active coaches from the inaugural ISL season.

Ivan Vukomanovic

Ivan has clearly shown his reluctance to return to India to coach any ISL clubs. Chennaiyin FC would have to do a lot of brainstorming to convince the former Yugoslavian international to sign for the Marina Machan. He is well-versed in the climatic conditions in South India and the love and passion for football, which the localities from the region share. His arrival in Kerala completely changed the trajectory of the club and raised the standards of the team after Manjapadda made regular appearances in the playoffs. Though this might seem unlikely, Chennaiyin FC might still be keen to build their new squad around Ivan.

Eelco Schattorie

The Dutchman’s experience in the Indian subcontinent is immense across different competitions. He first arrived in India in 2012 and won the IFA Shield with Prayag United. He even took North East United FC into the ISL semi-finals and has also taken charge of Kerala Blasters FC. Post his stints in India, Eelco has worked extensively in the Gulf region as the technical director of Al Ettifaq before taking over Al Seeb as the manager. He fits well with the club, wanting a developmental focus. It will be interesting to see if Eelco can be the next manager for Chennaiyin FC.

Des Buckingham

Des has formerly led Mumbai City FC in the AFC Champions League and is a reputed figure in the Indian footballing circuit. After being sacked by Oxford United recently, he is currently without a club and may even be tempted to make a move to India. However, Buckingham is a high-profile coach in the ISL and prefers working with a structured framework and a project. If the Super Machans are ambitious enough to revamp their squad, there’s no better option than Buckingham as Chennaiyin FC head coach. Being previously part of the City Football group, under Buckingham, Mumbai City FC became the first Indian side to win a game in the Champions League.