East Bengal FC appoints Shanmugam Venkatesh as new assistant coach

This is not Venkatesh’s first stint with the side, having made 17 appearances as a player in the 2002-03 season when the Red & Gold Brigade won the National Football League and the Durand Cup.

FILE PHOTO: Shanmugam Venkatesh pictured in training. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Shanmugam Venkatesh has been appointed the assistant coach of East Bengal for the ongoing season of the Indian Super League (ISL), the club announced on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Bino George will continue to be the head coach of the reserves team.

This is not Venkatesh’s first stint with the side, having made 17 appearances as a player in the 2002-03 season when the Red & Gold Brigade won the National Football League and the Durand Cup. The former midfielder also plied his trade for Indian Telephone Industries, Salgaocar, Mohun Bagan, and the erstwhile Mahindra United and Pune FC during his 18-year-long professional career.

Venkatesh has also represented the Indian team between 1997 and 2006, claiming three SAFF Championship titles (1997, 1999 and 2005) in the process.

The 43-year-old also has a decent amount of coaching experience under his belt, having served as assistant to current EBFC head coach Stephen Constantine during the latter’s second spell at the helm of the national team between 2015 and 2019.

The AFC A license-holder has also coached the Indian U-19 side in the past and was in charge of the Indian U-20 squad that competed in Group H of the recently-concluded AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

“I think Venky will be a great addition to the team. He worked as my assistant at the Indian national team for four years. He played under me as well. He will be a big help in identifying new talented players for East Bengal FC. I am looking forward to working with him again,” Constantine told EBFC’s media team.