“We have just completed the paper work with Ridder. He will join the side before East Bengal’s next home match (against Shillong Lajong FC) on November 12, “ East Bengal football secretary Santosh Bhattacharya said.

Ridder, who had coached East Bengal in 2005-06, has an excellent rapport with India skipper and East Bengal striker Bhaichung Bhutia, with whom the Belgian had previously worked. Under Ridder, the club became the then National Football League runners-up.