Eelco Schattorie, who guided NorthEast United FC to the Indian Super League semifinal last season, has been appointed as the new head coach of Kerala Blasters FC.
The 47-year-old Dutchman has over 20 years of coaching experience, mostly in the Middle East. Kerala Blasters, which was a struggling side last year under Englishman David James and later under Portuguese Nelo Vingada, had finished ninth last season.
Schattorie had also been the coach of I-League teams Prayag United and East Bengal and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ettifaq earlier.
“It is an honour to start leading this club back to glory. A club with the biggest fan base in the ISL should be entertained with a winning team.
“That is what we are going to try and accomplish with passion, teamwork and dedication at all levels. Let the journey start soon,” Schattorie has been quoted as saying in the Blasters’ media release announcing the news.
“Kerala has a pool of young players in their backyard and hopefully we can start building players into the senior team with a Kerala heart.”
