With the Nicolas Anelka experiment not quite working last season, Mumbai City FC have named former Costa Rica boss Alexandre Guimaraes as their new head coach for the next season of the Indian Super League (ISL).
Mumbai City, despite having a plethora of stars in their lineup, have flattered to deceive over the last two seasons of the ISL, and with Anelka failing to make an impact as player-manager in ISL 2015, a change was necessary, with team co-owner Ranbir Kapoor, whose team were also linked with a move for Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos, hopeful Guimaraes will be the man to bring success to the side.
"We are extremely excited to have Alexandre on board with us," Kapoor said in a media release. "As a coach, and as a player, he has always shown great endearing and persistent traits, along with a winner's mentality, that resound with our beliefs at Mumbai City FC.
"We are very confident that he is a right fit for the club, and for this city."
Henriques comes with wide coaching experience, having led the Costa Rica national team at the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups. The 56-year-old, whose son Celso Borges plays for Deportivo La Coruna in the La Liga, has also had success in Asia with UAE club Al Wasl and Chinese side Tianjin Teda.
"I have been coaching in Asia for a few years now and the Indian growth story is something that has caught my eye for quite a while," Guimaraes said. "I was always keen to be a part of this massive football movement, and over my conversations with the club, I almost instantly knew that Mumbai City FC would be the perfect club for me to make my foray into Indian football.
"I am very excited about this new challenge and I hope that together with the entire Mumbai City FC team, we deliver a successful season to the people of Mumbai."
Guimaraes has a lot of work to do to get the best out of this underachieving side, considering Mumbai City FC finished seventh and sixth in the eight-team league in the first two ISL seasons.
