Ian Gillan is Calicut FC Head Coach; Biby Thomas Assistant Coach

KOZHIKODE:
Kozhikode’s football team, for the recently launched Super League Kerala, Calicut FC has appointed internationally renowned Ian Andrew Gillan, a former coach of the Australian football team, as the head coach. The 58-year-old Gillan, a national of Australia and the UK, has 25-plus years of experience, and holds ‘A’ Licence from Asian Football Federation (AFC) from where he also secured a Professional Coaching Diploma. He has coached in various leading football clubs in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, and England. His last contract was as Head Coach of Lalitpur City Football Club in Nepal.

Former under 21 Indian player and head coach of under 16 national women’s team, Biby Thomas Muttath, will be the assistant coach. Biby, 46, a native of Thrissur, was the Technical Director of Mangalore FC, Head Coach of Santhosh Trophy Karnataka team and a selector for Kerala team in Senior National Football Championship, Santosh Trophy 2023-24.

Making this announcement, VK Mathews the franchise owner of Calicut FC, said “Gillan is an internationally acclaimed football coach and will add firepower to the team with his enormous skill and experience as coach, manager and technical director. VK Mathews is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the 5000 employee strong IBS Software, the global leader in technology for the aviation industry.

The Super League Kerala will start in September with 6 teams from Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Thrissur, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram vying for the Rs 1.50 crore prize money. There will be 30 matches at the league stage followed by the semi-finals and finals in October. Calicut FC will have a total strength of 25 players including 6 overseas players, 9 national players and the rest from Kerala. The home ground of the Calicut FC is the Kozhikode Corporation stadium where they will play five matches.