KOLKATA: Former FC Goa and Mumbai City FC coach Sergio Lobera is set to return to India for his new project of reviving East Bengal's fortunes.
A source tracking the development confirmed to TOI on Tuesday that the 46-year-old Spaniard, who is currently managing Chinese club Sichuan Jiuniu, has agreed to join East Bengal.
"It looks like a done deal. The process of getting release from his current job is underway. He is excited to take up his new responsibility in India. East Bengal club is waiting for his formal signature," the source said.
Although there's no official announcement, the Emami Group-led management is understood to have offered Lobera a two-year contract and the Spaniard is expected to arrive at his new base only after the Super Cup.
Outgoing British coach Stephen Constantine is scheduled to manage the red-and gold brigade in the season-ending Super Cup in Kerala.
Although several names have been doing the round since the club informed that Constantine would leave at the end of the season, Lobera is believed to be the East Bengal management's first choice in taking over the struggling team's revival project.
East Bengal finished ninth among 11 teams in the just-concluded ISL season.
Known for his brand of attacking football, Lobera has presided over Indian football in the past as a successful coach.
A former Barcelona youth team coach, he began his stint with Indian football as an FC Goa coach in 2017 and went on to guide them to the Super Cup triumph in 2019 and ISL League Winners' Shield in 2019-20. After switching base to Mumbai in his fourth season, he helped Mumbai City FC become the only team in ISL history to win both the League Winners' Shield and the championship.
Aiming to overhaul the team, the East Bengal management is also learnt to have approached a few players, although some of them are reportedly contracted with other ISL teams.
"The management is keen on forming a good team. But everything will be done in consultation with the new coach," the source said.
