Kerala Blasters changed two coaches within eight months this year. While poor results ended Mikael Stahre’s stint last week, only the management, and not the fans, wanted his predecessor Ivan Vukomanovic out last April. He achieved wins and connected with supporters, but what made him crowd favourite was his courage of convictions, something that makes a champion performer. Swede Stahre lost his job after Blasters slipped to 10th in the ISL table, but Vukomanovic had to leave after he failed to win a title in three seasons despite entering play-off.
To Blasters fans, Vukomanovic was ‘Aashan’, who had the courage to challenge the wrongs in Indian football. They backed the Serb as he emerged as the top contender for the India job in an online platform’s survey in July as AIFF searched for Igor Stimac’s successor. Vukomanovic was not a big name when he replaced Kibu Vicuna at Blasters in 2021 with only a 44% success rate in all matches managed. Blasters fans were initially sceptical, but the bonding grew. Social media came in handy and his use of the dialogues, like ‘Kerivada makkale’ from the Malayalam blockbuster Godfather soon after his team lost in the 2022 ISL finals in Goa on Instagram, went viral.
The biggest moment was his decision to walk out midway through the ISL knockout game against Bengaluru FC in 2023 following Sunil Chhetri’s controversial free-kick goal. With 25 min utes left, a comeback was always possible, but Vukomanovic went by instinct. He rubbed the club management the wrong way with the decision, but not the fans. They thought the referee gave the club a raw deal and hailed the bravery of the coach to question the officiating standards in ISL, which they thought were average.
The AIFF imposed a 10-match ban on Vukomanovic and financial penalties on the club as fissures grew between him and the management. AIFF demanded an apology but Vukomanovic sent a carefully drafted reply without expressing remorse.
Before returning from his suspension, Vukomanovic shared a reel with him humming ‘Kadalolam sneham ullintullilundu,’ a song from an album. In his comeback match at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, the nearcapacity crowd sang it. It showed how much the fans loved him.
He was not a coach without flaws but could smartly cover the team’s weaknesses, said a star ward of him at Blasters. “Almost the same squad had played under Ivan. How can a team that qualified for play-offs three times in a row slump like that?” asked the player.
Despite his exit, ‘Ivanism’ is felt on the stands. Whenever Blasters play in Kochi, fans chant his name. They want Vukomanovic back. Though he has dismissed an immediate return, a reunion cannot be ruled out. He has left a mark on Blasters.
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