Mumbai, March 19:
Mumbai City FC are delighted to confirm that Head Coach Jorge Costa has extended his stay at the club. The Portuguese signs a one-year extension and will continue to be at the helm for the Islanders until the end of the 2019/20 season.
In his first season at the club, Costa brought to the fore a strong and effective counter-attacking brand of football. The club achieved some milestones in the season, including a club-record 9 game unbeaten run as Costa guided the Islanders to the Hero ISL semifinals for the second time in the club’s history.
The 46-year old was delighted at the opportunity to stay at the club and says ‘he didn’t have to think twice’ before putting pen to paper on an extension.
“Since my first day at this club, I've had a great experience with the management and all the staff. The organization here at Mumbai City FC is thoroughly professional and has done everything to make my job easier and make me feel at home. We are not satisfied with stopping in the semifinals, but proud of the season we’ve had”, said Costa.
“Our fans have been a huge part of what we are as a club and they have been immense this season. I'm very happy that I can be in Mumbai next season, continue our good work and give our fans some great memories at the Arena.,” he added.
Costa, who won the UEFA Cup and UEFA Champions League for FC Porto and made 50 appearances for the Portuguese National Team as a player, started off his managerial career at SC Braga among other Portuguese clubs.
Costa guided CFR Cluj to the Romanian Liga I title in 2011-12 and had coaching stints in Cyprus, Gabon and France before making his way to Mumbai.
"Jorge has been a thorough professional and has given his everything in taking the club forward. His formidable, counter-attacking style of football has given Mumbai City FC a unique identity. He has ambitions for the club and when we knew there was an option of having Jorge in charge for another season, we didn’t waste any time,” the Islanders’ co-owner Ranbir Kapoor said about the decorated Portuguese.
Club co-owner Bimal Parekh reiterated the clubs confidence in Costa and expressed his delight on his extension. “We knew we had found the right man for the job in Jorge Costa and the positive season we’ve had is a testament to that. Continuity has been one of the most important aspects in the fabric of the club and we’re glad that we will have Jorge at the helm for the next season to build on the foundation he has laid and lead the club to newer heights”, said Bimal Parekh.
Mumbai City FC, who finished third in the league stage of the 2018-19 Hero ISL, fell short in the semifinals, going down to eventual runners-up FC Goa. The next task at hand for Jorge Costa and the side is the 2019 Hero Super Cup with the Islanders drawn to play Chennaiyin FC in the Round of 16 on March 29 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar.
