Bengaluru FC’s announcement on November 14, 2025, confirming the departure of head coach Gerard Zaragoza, marks one of the most significant turning points in the club’s recent history.
While managerial exits are not new in Indian football, this one reflects a deeper structural issue that extends far beyond performance or tactical disagreements. Zaragoza’s departure along with assistant coach Sebastian Vega and strength and conditioning coach Ioannis Gkiokas comes at a time when the Indian Super League (ISL) is facing an unprecedented commercial and governance crisis.
In response, Bengaluru FC has appointed former India captain and club assistant coach Renedy Singh as interim head coach, signalling a shift toward internal stabilization rather than external overhaul. This transition is less a reflection of the club’s sporting direction and more a necessary adaptation to the uncertain environment gripping Indian football.
A Departure Shaped by Crisis, Not Performance
Zaragoza’s exit is deeply connected to the failure of the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) commercial rights tender earlier this month. The tender, floated for a 15-year partnership covering ISL broadcasting, sponsorship, and digital rights, failed to attract a single bid. This has left the immediate future of the league in a vacuum, with clubs having no clarity on revenue streams, scheduling, or operational planning for the 2025–26 season.
Despite initial interest from Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and other domestic and foreign entities, the bid submission deadline closed without a proposal an outcome widely attributed to a mismatch between AIFF’s financial expectations and market realities. The collapse of this tender does not simply delay administrative decisions; it fundamentally destabilizes the ecosystem on which ISL clubs rely.
For Bengaluru FC, the impact has been immediate. Without a confirmed league structure or revenue model for the upcoming season, keeping a high-value foreign coaching staff became financially and strategically untenable. Zaragoza, who had already attracted interest from European clubs, chose to pursue opportunities in more stable environments. Thus, his exit is best understood not as a footballing decision but as an unavoidable strategic consequence of governance failure.
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Zaragoza’s two-year tenure with Bengaluru FC from December 2023 to November 2025 was marked by tactical clarity and improved consistency. His overall record, featuring a win percentage of 43.48% and an average of 1.54 points per match, reflects a coach who brought structural discipline to the club.
Under his leadership, Bengaluru FC saw meaningful improvements:
- Goals conceded dropped from over 1.5 per match in 2023 to 1.29 in 2024, showing defensive tightening.
- BFC scored 40 goals in the 2024–25 ISL season, placing them among the highest-scoring teams.
- The club secured a fourth-place finish in the league phase during the same season.
Zaragoza’s preferred 4-3-3 attacking formation revitalized the team after a period of instability. The club reached an ISL final under him and became more competitive against the top sides. His final match a penalty shootout loss to Punjab FC in the 2025 Super Cup group stage was disappointing but hardly reflective of his overall contributions.
The paradox lies in the fact that a coach who delivered structural stability and tactical growth chose to leave just as the club appeared to be turning a corner. But the wider crisis in Indian football made continuity impossible.
Renedy Singh Steps In: The Right Choice for Turbulent Times
In naming Renedy Singh as interim head coach, Bengaluru FC has opted for a leader with cultural alignment, coaching credentials, and an intimate understanding of the club environment. Singh, a highly respected former India captain and a UEFA Pro Licence holder, has served as BFC’s assistant coach since mid-2023. His experience in caretaker and assistant roles most notably at SC East Bengal makes him well-suited to guide the team through uncertain terrain.
Renedy’s advantage lies not in implementing dramatic tactical change, but in ensuring continuity. Having worked under Zaragoza for nearly two seasons, he is familiar with the team’s tactical structure, player dynamics, and internal systems. Maintaining the 4-3-3 framework provides consistency for players during a period where external disruptions are unavoidable.
His challenges, however, are immediate and substantial:
- Rebuilding the support staff after the exit of the entire foreign technical team.
- Managing player motivation amid uncertainty surrounding the 2025–26 season.
- Preparing for competitive football without clarity on scheduling or league operations.
But in an environment where ISL champions like Mohun Bagan have suspended all footballing activities, Bengaluru FC’s move reflects strategic prudence rather than risk-taking.
Until the AIFF resolves the commercial tender crisis likely through Supreme Court intervention ISL clubs face an unstable future. Bengaluru FC’s decision to avoid a long-term foreign coaching appointment is a calculated risk management strategy. With no guaranteed league structure in place, committing to an expensive overseas coach would invite both financial strain and the likelihood of a repeat exit.
The club’s immediate focus will be operational stability: rebuilding support staff, maintaining training standards, and ensuring clear internal communication with players. Once clarity emerges at the national level, Bengaluru FC can reassess long-term leadership options.
For now, Renedy Singh represents the ideal bridge a steady hand in a rapidly shifting landscape.
