Manolo Marquez has stepped down from his position as the head coach of the Indian national football team, concluding his tenure by mutual agreement with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The decision follows a string of underwhelming performances by the national team, leading to increased pressure on the AIFF to address the team's decline.

The AIFF Executive Committee convened in New Delhi and accepted Marquez's desire to leave, despite having a year remaining on his original two-year contract. According to AIFF Deputy Secretary General K Satyanarayana, the departure occurred without any financial implications for either party. The federation will soon begin the search for a new head coach.

Marquez's appointment as head coach took place in June 2024. During the 2024-25 season, he also served as the head coach for Indian Super League (ISL) side FC Goa. His dual role and the team's performance came under scrutiny after India's 0-1 loss to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, 2025. This defeat jeopardized the nation's chances of qualifying for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Under Marquez, India struggled to find consistency, securing only one victory in their last eight matches – a 3-0 win against the Maldives in March. In 2025, the team managed one win, one draw, and two losses in four matches. The return of veteran striker Sunil Chhetri to the squad did little to improve the team's results.

Marquez, who previously led Hyderabad FC to the Indian Super League title in 2022 and secured the Super Cup with FC Goa earlier in 2025, expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's performance after a goalless draw against Bangladesh in March. He voiced his frustration, stating that he was "very angry, disappointed with everyone" and questioned if this was "the reality of Indian football".

Prior to his departure, there were reports that Marquez had considered resigning due to fan opposition and a series of defeats. Despite the loss to Hong Kong, Marquez maintained that India still had a chance to qualify for the Asian Cup. However, the AIFF was already making contingency plans, with National team director Subrata Paul hinting at a potential change in leadership in late June.

India's next international match is scheduled against Singapore in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers. The AIFF faces the task of finding a suitable replacement to guide the team forward and improve their chances in future competitions.