For those who are well acquainted with Indian football, Santosh Kashyap will need no introduction. The man who took Royal Wahingdoh FC from the second tier to the I-League proper and captured the attention of purists and critics alike, will be joining NorthEast United FC as an Assistant Coach.
The former Indian international has been winning rave reviews for his coaching methodologies and man-management skills. A brilliant season with Royal Wahingdoh FC, saw the Shillong-based side finish 3rd in one of the most entertaining and closely fought I-League seasons, in recent times. Under Santosh’s tutelage, the Royals played an attractive and dynamic brand of football, that saw them exceed expectations and grab headlines throughout the campaign.
But, the one thing that die-hard fans of Indian football would like to laud Santosh for, more than anything, is his enormous contribution in unearthing and showcasing two of India’s brightest football prodigies : Jackichand Singh and Seityasen Singh. The two stars from Royal Wahingdoh will be up for grabs in the first ever Hero ISL Auction on the 10th of July, 2015. The dynamic duo turned in some scintillating performances on either flanks and were the fulcrum of the Royal’s success this season. Both of them have attributed their success to their Head Coach and Indian football certainly has Santosh to thank for their meteoric rise.
Speaking to NEUFC’s media manager, Kashyap shared his thoughts on taking over the mantle of Assistant Coach, “I am thankful to John Abraham and the entire management team at NEUFC for providing me with the opportunity to become a part of this family. I cannot wait to start working with the team and I am very excited to be a part of this edition of the Indian Super League.”
The former Mohun Bagan manager also revealed that he was looking forward to work with NEUFC Head Coach, César Farías, “I am delighted that I will be working with a Head Coach who is young, dynamic and has achieved some brilliant things with the Venezuelan National Team. I am sure that I will have a lot to learn from him. I am also confident that my knowledge of the north-east and Indian football will help him in understanding the dynamics of the squad better.”
An AFC ‘Pro Diploma’ license holder, Santosh possesses the wonderful ability of spotting and honing young talent, a quality derived from the time he spent at one of India’s best youth academies at Mahindra United. Technically astute and a true student of the game, Santosh Kashyap will undoubtedly be a strong brick in the coaching wall at NEUFC.
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