After leading Jamshedpur FC to the top of the Indian Super League's 2021-22 league table, Scottish coach Owen Coyle has announced that he will depart the club for familial reasons.
The former English Premier League manager had coached Jamshedpur for two seasons after a stint with Chennaiyin FC, whom he took to the 2019 ISL final.
When Coyle was signed as head coach of Jamshedpur FC in 2020, the team had finished eighth the previous year. In just two seasons, Jamshedpur has won the ISL League Winner's Shield this year, before losing to Kerala Blasters in the semifinals.
On announcing his departure, Coyle said that if he returns to India, Jamshedpur would be his first choice to work.
ALSO READ: How Owen Coyle scripted Jamshedpur's league win
“I have had two absolutely wonderful years with Jamshedpur. The people I met, the relationships we forged in the club is one of the best I have had in football,” Coyle wrote in his statement to the club's fans.
Head coach Owen Coyle announces his departure from @JamshedpurFC after two seasons, where he won the #HeroISL League Winners Shield! 👏
— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) March 22, 2022
Details: https://t.co/ncTHwKkdXX#LetsFootball #JamshedpurFC #OwenCoyle pic.twitter.com/luIkku5qD3
“With a heavy heart, I am obviously very sad to tell you that I won’t be continuing this journey together as I have had to return home for family reasons.”
“However, if I am to return to India in the future, we have agreed upon that Jamshedpur will be my first choice to work at if my services are required at the time. I have a massive attachment to the club and I consider it like home.”
Jamshedpur FC's CEO Mukul Choudharie said: “We are extremely thankful to Owen for what he has done for the club. He has made a gargantuan impact, one which will be remembered forever and etched in the club's history.”
The manager famously helped Burnley earn promotion to the English Premier League after 30 years in 2010. In his next brief stint at Bolton Wanderers, he regularly upset the giants in the league and developed players who could shine on the big occasion.
Jamshedpur lost to Kerala Blasters 2-1 on aggregate over two legs of the semifinal. The team had finished with 43 points from 20 league games, five points ahead of eventual title winners Hyderabad FC.
