Varela takes charge of star-studded Mohammedan

Mohammedan Sporting Club has appointed Argentine-born Spanish coach Fernando Andres Santiago Varela to lead their newly reinforced squad for the upcoming domestic football season.

The Dhaka-based club officially unveiled the 53-year-old tactician at a press conference on Tuesday. Varela takes charge of a powerful 33-man squad that features nine major signings from defending champions Bashundhara Kings, including national team goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico.

"We are handing the tactical duties to an experienced coach who has proven himself repeatedly in Indian football," club director Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan said at the press conference, alongside team manager Amirul Islam Babu.

Varela, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence, brings a strong track record from neighbouring India. He led Gokulam Kerala to the Kerala Premier League title in 2018 and won the historic Durand Cup the following year. 

During the 2020-21 season, he guided Churchill Brothers to a runners-up finish in the I-League, securing eight wins and five draws in 15 matches.

He later took over FC Bengaluru United, leading the side to the Stafford Challenge Cup in 2023 with an impressive 12 wins in 19 games. His most recent coaching role before arriving in Bangladesh was with Sporting Club de Goa.

With their transfer business complete, Mohammedan has built a highly balanced team. Fans and officials are now watching closely to see if Varela’s tactical expertise can turn this star-studded squad into treble winners and bring major football success back to the traditional black-and-white camp.