Manolo Marquez's tenure as the head coach of the Indian national football team has come to an abrupt end, with both parties agreeing to a mutual separation. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed the departure on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, stating that the decision was reached "without any financial implications" for either side.

The AIFF Executive Committee convened to approve Marquez's request to be relieved of his duties, despite having a year remaining on his contract. AIFF Deputy Secretary General K Satyanarayana stated that Marquez was relieved from his position and that the federation would soon begin the search for a new head coach.

Marquez's stint with the Blue Tigers lasted just over a year, having been appointed in June 2024. During his time, the team struggled to produce consistent results, managing only one win in eight matches. The sole victory came against the Maldives in a friendly match in March. A recent defeat to Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers further intensified scrutiny on his position.

Prior to his role with the national team, Marquez had a successful track record in the Indian Super League (ISL), winning the 2022 title with Hyderabad FC and the 2024 Super Cup with FC Goa. He initially worked in a dual capacity, managing FC Goa alongside his national team duties, with plans to transition to the national team role full-time after the 2024-25 season.

Marquez's departure comes amidst growing pressure on the AIFF to address the national team's declining performance. India's FIFA ranking has fallen from 99th in July 2023 to 127th, and the team has not secured a competitive win since November 2023. The team also had a poor showing at the 2024 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, failing to win a single game and crashing out in the group stage.

Following a goalless draw against Bangladesh in March, Marquez had openly expressed his frustration, stating, "Maybe this is the reality of Indian football". Despite the recent loss to Hong Kong, Marquez maintained that India still had a chance to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

The AIFF now faces the task of finding a suitable replacement to lead the national team. According to sources, the AIFF is inclined towards hiring an Indian for the role. India's next international match is an away game against Singapore in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers.