Bengaluru FC have hired Albert Roca, a former assistant at Barcelona FC, as their head coach on a two-year contract. Roca's first game in charge of Bengaluru will be in the AFC Cup quarterfinal against Singapore club Tampines Rovers in September.
Roca, 53, previously served as an assistant to Frank Rjikaard at Barcelona between 2003 and 2008, during which the club won two La Ligas, two Spanish Super Cups, as well as the UEFA Champions League. He then followed Rjikaard to Turkish club Galatasaray in 2009, as well as the Saudi Arabia national team in 2011. Roca's last job was as manager of the El Salvador national team where he was in charge for a year. Roca has also played for Spanish clubs Real Zaragoza and CE Sabadell FC in the La Liga.
"Albert has been with some of the best clubs in Europe as well as spent time in developing countries because of which he will have a great sense of the challenges India would bring," Parth Jindal, Bengaluru's CEO, said.
"We have had a very successful three years and Albert is only going to compound the efforts we have been making. He has also done some commendable work with young players in his career and that is absolutely in line with the philosophy of BFC where we are trying to develop players into stellar talent for the future."
Roca said he was excited by the prospect of joining Bengaluru and was confident that he could introduce a style of football that the supporters would be proud of.
"I'm very satisfied to have signed with Bengaluru FC," he said. "They are the champions of India, have fantastic supporters and most importantly, have a great support system and a management that is always hands on and wants to stay at the top.
"I want to assure our supporters that we will always give it our best. I want the supporters to be happy about the way we play."