Gerard Nus appointed head coach of NorthEast United FC

Guwahati: Indian Super League side NorthEast United Football Club (NEUFC) put long-standing speculation to rest on Tuesday by announcing the signing of former Ghana national team assistant coach Gerard Nus as its new head coach for the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL).

The 35-year old Nus, who holds a UEFA Pro Licence and a Sports Science Degree, will be the youngest manager in the club’s history.

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During his university days, Nus suffered an ankle injury that ended his playing career. He immediately turned to coach. He started his professional career as a coach at Liverpool FC’s academy and later was promoted to Rafa Benitez’s first-team coaching staff. As a first-team manager, he has managed Rayo OKC in the United States and FC Irtysh Pavlodar in Kazakhstan.

On the international stage, he enjoyed a highly successful stint with the Ghana national team, working as an assistant manager under former Highlander’s head coach Grant.

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He has also served as Sporting Director for the La Liga sides Elche CF and Rayo Vallecano.

Known for his methodical approach, effective man-management, and grooming young talent, Gerard has worked with academy teams at Brighton and, most recently Before joining NEUFC, he was at Swedish top-flight club AFC Eskilstuna, working as their Methodology Technical Director.

Speaking on the appointment, NorthEast United’s Executive Director Priya Runchal said; “We were really impressed with Gerard’s vision for the team. He has coached all around the world and his profile speaks for itself. He is known to develop budding talent whilst playing a brand of attractive attacking football.” She also added that the NEUFC is very much confident that he is the right appointment for the club.

“I am excited to start working at Northeast United FC. This is going to be my third stint in Asia and I have heard a lot of good things about the club, the fans and the league from my former boss Avram Grant.” Nus said in a statement released by the club. “I am looking forward to working with the coaching staff and the players to deliver results which the club aspires to achieve in the coming season,” the Spaniard further added.

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NEUFC will be relying on Nus for a major turnaround after remaining trophyless for six years, since the inception of the League. Last season they finished 9th, their second-worst season after 2017-18 when they ended at the bottom of the table (as they did in 2014 when ISL only had 8 teams).

NEUFC is expected to assemble in Goa along with the rest of the ISL teams, and play out the 2020-21 season of the league with the Tilak Maidan in Vasco as their makeshift home ground for this season.

Unlike other seasons, the ISL this season will entirely take place behind closed doors in three venues across Goa due to the COVID-19 pandemic from 21 November 2020 to 21 March 2021.