NEUFC Sack Head Coach Gerard Nus; Khalid Jamil Assigned as Interim Coach

GUWAHATI: NorthEast United Football Club (NEUFC) last night sacked Spanish head coach Gerard Nus even as the team’s winless run in the Indian Super League 2020-21 continued for the seventh match after being held to a 1-1 draw by Bengaluru FC at Tilak Maidan Stadium in Goa on Tuesday.

“The Club has decided to part ways with the Spanish national (Nus) after taking into consideration a contrast in the team’s current tactics and the club’s philosophy and vision. The club would like to thank Mr Nus for his hard work and commitment during his time at NorthEast United and wish him the best for all his future endeavours,” a statement from NEUFC said an hour after the match on Tuesday night.

“Khalid Jamil has been appointed as the new interim head coach for the remainder of the current season,” the statement added.

An Asian Football Confederation Pro Coaching Licence holder former India international, Jamil had been assisting Nus in the team and is the head of the NEUFC Academy on a three-year deal since 2019-20. He led Aizawl FC to title victory in their maiden appearance in the I-League in 2017.

The club management apparently lost trust in the gaffer after they squandered a 27^th minute lead, off a Luis Machado goal, to concede the equaliser to Bengaluru’s Rahul Bheke in the 50^th minute on Tuesday evening.

This is the second straight time NEUFC have sacked their head coach midway through the season after they parted ways with Croatian manager Robert Jarni towards the end of the 2019-20 season.

NEUFC had hired the 35-year-old Spaniard Nus, who assisted former NEUFC head coach Avram Grant in the Ghana team, as the ninth manager in seven seasons and was the youngest manager in the club’s history.

Nus started his professional career as a coach at Liverpool FC’s academy and was later promoted to Rafa Benitez’s first team coaching staff. Nus had also worked with academy teams at Brighton and most recently at AFC Eskilstuna.

He has also served as sporting director for La Liga sides Elche CF and Rayo Vallecano.