ISL 2026-27: Mumbai City appoints Ashvir Singh Johal as head coach for remainder of season

Earlier this month, the Islanders parted ways with Spaniard Manolo Marquez after their poor start to the season, where they recorded two draws and two losses, leaving them 11th in the 13-team table.

Mumbai City FC has appointed Ashvir Singh Johal as its head coach for the remainder of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season, the club announced on Saturday.

The Islanders parted ways with Spaniard Manolo Marquez after their poor start to the season, where they recorded two draws and two losses, leaving them 11th in the 13-team table.

Born in Leicester, England, Johal began his footballing journey as both a player and coach at his local non-league club, Guru Nanak Gurdwara FC. He subsequently joined Leicester City's academy, where he spent ten years coaching across the youth development system, working with players up to the Under-18 level.

In the 2022-23 season, Johal moved into senior first-team coaching as Assistant Coach to Kolo Touré at Wigan Athletic, gaining experience in the English Championship. He then joined Como in Italy, where he worked as Assistant Coach to Cesc Fabregas with the club's Primavera setup during the 2023-24 season.

Johal subsequently took charge of Notts County's B team between 2024 and 2025, before being appointed head coach of Morecambe FC in 2025. At Morecambe, he became the youngest head coach in the top five divisions of English football.

He holds the UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching qualification awarded by UEFA.

Speaking about joining the club, Johal said, "I look forward to working closely with the players, coaching staff and everyone at the Club. We have a talented squad, and my immediate focus will be on building a strong collective, establishing the right standards and preparing the team to compete in every match."