ISL: Odisha FC part ways with coach Josep Gombau

Weeks after finishing the recently concluded Indian Super League (ISL) season 6 on sixth place, newly-shifted

Odisha FC

parted ways with Spanish coach

Josep Gombau

.


In a statement released on Wednesday the Bhubaneswar-based side announced the decision saying the club reached the agreement amicably due to the coach's familial obligations.

"It wasn't an easy decision to make. I have enjoyed my time at Odisha and I am proud of what I built there. It is with some regret that I can't finish what I started, but I will always be rooting for the success of Odisha FC," the outgoing coach expressed.

Club president

Rohan Sharma

said, "Some things in life are more important than football. I would like to thank coach Gombau and his coaching staff from the bottom of my heart for all that they have done for the club. The whole coaching staff was such a positive influence for the club. No matter where they all go in life they will always have a home in Odisha."

Coach Gombau had joined Odisha FC (earlier Delhi Dynamos) ahead of the fifth season in 2018. He continued for the second consecutive season in 2019-20 and took the side close to the playoffs spot. Slated to play their home matches at

Kalinga Stadium

in Bhubaneswar, Odisha FC had to play their first three of nine home games in Pune due to the unavailability of the stadium because of delay in relaying of natural turf. However, coming back to Odisha they improved their chances of making it to the knockouts winning four of the six remaining home ties but had a narrow miss.