Will need time to implement my philosophy at Sporting Clube: Armando Colaco | Goa News

Armando Colaco took over from Sporting Clube de Goa on Monday on a three-year deal

Panaji: According to his own statements, Armando Colaco is “fish without water, without football”.
The former Dempo SC coach (2000-2013) has won almost everything India has to offer. He’s won more than any other coach in India since the turn of the century, but even at 69 there’s no stopping him.
Colaco also coached the national team and is now ready for another project, this time long-term, as he took over Sporting Clube de Goa on Monday on a three-year deal.
“I love football very much and can’t live without it,” Colaco told TOI. “I wanted to contribute with all my experience. It could have been in administration or education. But I thank Sporting Clube de Goa for believing in me.”
Colaco remains India’s most successful coach, winning five national championship titles between 2005 and 2012. His first major honor was the Federation Cup in 2004. Almost 20 years after his first national triumph as a coach, no one has come close.
The footballing landscape in Goa changed in 2016 when Sporting Clube along with Dempo and Salgaocar FC decided to withdraw from the I-League in protest of the All India Football Federation roadmap for Indian football. The decision to make the Indian Super League (ISL) the top tier and relegate the I-League to the second tier was unacceptable to Goan clubs.
Under the new AIFF roadmap, starting in the 2022-23 and 2023-2024 seasons, I-League winners will be promoted to the ISL with no entry fee if they meet national club licensing criteria.
Sporting have their own ambitions to return to the I-League, which they came close to winning twice. You now have the experience of the man who has won the league title five times.
“This is a new inning for me. The implementation of my philosophy will take time. I was introduced to this philosophy at Dempo’s since I was a junior player and it has stayed with me ever since.
“My teammates guided me to keep the ball in a 4-3-3 formation, which I continued in my coaching. System is what can be adopted when you have these kind of players. Modern football is all about attack and defense,” said Colaco.
Colaco has coached East Bengal, Bardez FC, Sesa FA and last season Churchill Brothers in the Goa Pro League. He had offers from I-League clubs and planned to study more in the US and UK. However, due to personal reasons he had to stay in Goa where he has now found another challenge – to lead Sporting Clube back to the top.