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Know NorthEast United coach Khalid Jamil, 2nd ISL club lead by an Indian coach.

NorthEast United part ways with Gerard Nus, Khalid Jamil appointed interim head coach. He holds AFC Pro Coaching License and played for three clubs in India in a 12-year playing career. He subsequently went into football management.

Highlights

  • East Bengal signed Khalid Jamil as their head coach with a record breaking deal of 1.25 crore, making him the highest paid Indian coach in the history of India’s top tier football league.
  • Aizawl FC became I League Champions under him.

Jamil was born on 21 April 1977 in Kuwait City, Kuwait to Indian parents. While in Kuwait Jamil went to an under-14 camp and met Michel Platini who was then the France national football team’s coach. Ever since Platini has been Jamil’s favorite player. He then moved to India later and got offered a contract from East Bengal and Mohun Bagan but rejected them as they were sponsored by an alcohol company.

Club career

Jamil started his professional career with Mahindra United of the National Football League in 1997 but did not play during the 1997–98 season and left for Air India FC in 1998. During the 2000–01 season Jamil made his first professional appearances with Air India and reportedly got an offer to join a football club from Brunei but rejected to offer, he still regrets it. He then went back to Mahindra United in 2002 but barely played due to many injuries which eventually led to early retirement. He then joined Mumbai F.C. in 2007 but does not play a single game with them during his two years with the club. In 2009 Jamil announced his retirement.

Managing career

After retiring from playing Jamil went straight into management and started with his last playing club Mumbai F.C. of the I-League in 2009. After one season at the helm during the 2009-10 season Jamil lead Mumbai to an 11th-place finish out of 14 which was still considered a great season for Jamil considering the limited financial resources at his disposal.

During the 2010-11 season Mumbai exceeded expectations to finish in 7th place out of 14 which earned Jamil huge praise In 2015 I-league Mumbai finished 6th their best.

In the 2017 I-League season, Jamil took over the job of Aizawl FC who were supposed to be relegated the previous season but had reached the Federation Cup final, and due to the Goan clubs withdrawing, they were reinstated on the back of public demand as they had played an attractive attacking brand of football. Aizawl FC became I League Champions under Khalid Jamil and Aizawl FC scripted history, becoming first north-east club to win the I-League.

After winning the league with Aizawl, Jamil joined rival club East Bengal as the head coach during 2017–18 season.

In January 2019, he was appointed the head coach of Mohun Bagan for the remainder of the season.

On June 19, 2019, he was appointed as Head of Academy and Assistant Coach of NorthEast United FC in a three-year deal.