Clarke for Goa ISL Team

CHENNAI: A number of foreign bosses have already signed up for the Indian Super League but the Goa ISL team is set to announce the most high-profile one yet.

Sources close to the team told TNIE that they were close to finalising a deal with former West Brom manager Steve Clarke who is famous for his twin stints as assistant manager to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool. “Things are almost done and we are now looking at finer details like where he would stay. We are planning to make an announcement soon,” said sources.

Clarke made more than 300 appearances for Chelsea as a defender before going into coaching, serving as Ruud Gullit’s assistant at Newcastle. He was appointed the club’s caretaker manager following Gullit’s departure before joining Chelsea and then Liverpool. His first season as West Brom manager saw them finish eighth in the English Premier League — their best ever finish — but results declined in his second season and he was subsequently fired.

Sources also revealed that Virat Kohli had been approached to become the team’s brand ambassador.

Meanwhile, Dempo is set to become the first club to reap the benefits of associating with an ISL franchise with authorities looking into the possibility of signing the ISL team’s marquee player for the I-League as well. “We will look for a marquee player from the IMG-Reliance pool. We will then look into the possibility of signing him on loan for the I-League as well,” said sources.

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The New Indian Express
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