Steve Coppell back in management as boss of Sachin Tendulkar’s soccer team
Former Reading and Palace chief heading to India as Kerala Blasters hope it's third time lucky with an English manager
STEVE COPPELL has agreed to take over as manager of Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters.
The news has come as a massive boost to cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who co-owns the club.
Former Crystal Palace and Reading boss Coppell will become Kerala's third English manager, following on from former national Under 21 and Leicester City boss Peter Taylor, who took charge of the club last season.
Taylor left midway through last season and was replaced by former Chelsea and Manchester City full-back Terry Phelan, having succeeded ex-England, Liverpool and West Ham goalkepeer David James.
James was Blasters' player-manager for the inaugural edition of the ISL in 2014 and guided the Yellow Army to the final where they lost 1-0 to Atletico Kolkata after a last-minute winner from Mohammed Rafi.
But last season they finished bottom of the eight-team league.
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Coppell brings a wealth of managerial experience having previously also been boss of clubs including Manchester City, Brentford, Bristol City and Brighton.
The 60-year-old had an 18-month spell as Crawley Town's Director of Football, ending in 2013, followed by a short stint in a similar role at Portsmouth.
Tendulkar has a 40 per cent share in the Blasters. He chose to invest in football, as opposed to an IPL cricket franchise, because he wanted to provide a platform for young soccer players in India.
Other big names to have previously managed in the Super League are David Platt, Roberto Carlos and Nicolas Anelka.
The arrival of Coppell has created a lot of 'hype' at Kerala Blasters, with owner Tendulkar seemingly overjoyed with the appointment.