Mumbai City FC Appoints Former Leicester City Academy Coach Ashvir Singh Johal As Head Coach

Mumbai City FC have announced the appointment of former Leicester City academy coach Ashvir Singh Johal as their head coach for the remainder of the 2026-27 season. This comes following the departure of Manolo Marquez, who was replaced due to the team's poor performance in the Indian Super League (ISL). Johal becomes Mumbai City's third head coach in a short span of time, highlighting the club's instability after Petr Kratky's exit in July 2026.

Johal joined the club from Morecambe FC, where he had been the head coach since 2025. Prior to that, he spent a decade at Leicester City's academy, coaching players from grassroots to Under-18 levels. He also briefly managed Wigan Athletic's senior team in 2022-23 and worked with Cesc Fabregas at Como's Primavera setup in Italy during the 2023-24 season. Johal holds a UEFA Pro Licence, making him well-qualified for the role.

The club's Director of Football, Sujay Sharma, expressed confidence in Johal's appointment, stating that he shares the club's playing philosophy and footballing vision. Despite limited senior managerial experience, Sharma believes Johal's unique qualities and ambitions make him the right fit for the challenge ahead. Johal himself expressed excitement about taking charge of the Islanders and affirmed that the club's identity aligns with his approach to the game.

The new coach is expected to join the team shortly and prepare for their next fixture against Bengaluru FC.