Odisha FC today announced the signing of its new Head Coach Francisco ‘Kiko’ Ramirez Gonzalez, ahead of the eighth season of the Indian Super League (ISL). The 51-year-old Spaniard has signed for the Bhubaneswar-based franchise for a year with an option to extend after the season.
After his retirement from professional football as a player, Ramirez started his coaching career with Spanish club Gimnastic as its Assistant Coach first in 2002 and then as its Youth Coach. In 2010, he joined Pobla Mafumet and returned to Gimnastic again in 2012. He has also coached other Spanish clubs like CE L`Hospitalet, CD Castellon and CE Sabadell.
He was the Second Coach at Nastic de Tarragona in the first division in Spain as well. His first foreign assignment was with Polish football club Wisla Krakow in 2017 and before coming to India, the UEFA Pro License holder was the Manager of Greek professional side AO Xanthi FC in 2019.