Roca to coach Bengaluru FC

Bengaluru Football Club on Wednesday announced Spaniard Albert Roca as their new head coach.

Roca has signed a two-year deal that will keep him with the I-League champions till the end of the 2017-18 season.

Roca served as an assistant to Frank Rijkaard for five seasons at Barcelona (2003-2008) during which the Catalans won the Champions League once, the La Liga twice and the Spanish Super Cup twice before following the Dutchman in the same role to Turkish club Galatasaray (2009-2010) and finally the Saudi Arabian national team (2011-2013). 

Roca’s last job was as manager of the El Salvador national team where he was in charge for a year.

As a player, Roca’s most notable stints were with Real Zaragoza and CE Sabadell FC in the La Liga apart from stints with a number of clubs in the second division.

ExcitedThe 53-year-old said he was excited at the prospect of joining the Bengaluru-based side and was confident about playing the kind of football that the club and the supporters would be proud of. 

“I’m very satisfied to have signed with Bengaluru FC. They are the champions of India, have fantastic supporters and most importantly, have a great support system and a management that is always hands on and wants to stay at the top. 

“I want to assure our supporters that we will always give it our best. I want the supporters to be happy about the way we play,” said Roca.

Roca’s first game in charge will be the AFC Cup quarterfinal against Singapore side Tampines Rovers in September; a game he reckons will be a tough challenge. 

The AFC Cup quarterfinal is definitely going to be a big challenge but we will do our best to get a good result and make the semis,” he said.

Roca takes over after the BFC decided to part ways with Ashley Westwood, who coached the team to two I-League titles.