Indian football: Des Buckingham replaces Sergio Lobera as head coach of ISL champions Mumbai City FC

Indian Super League champions Mumbai City FC announced that Sergio Lobera will be stepping down as head coach to continue his coaching journey with City Football Group.

The club’s new head coach will be Des Buckingham, who joins from CFG-owned A-League Champions Melbourne City. Buckingham will join the Islanders ahead of the 2021-22 ISL season on a two-year contract.

Lobera joined the club in October 2020 and oversaw their most successful campaign ever, when the Islanders became the first team in ISL history to secure both the ISL League Winners’ Shield and the ISL Trophy, completing a double in the 2020-’21 season.

After a successful spell in India, Lobera will be leaving the country to join CFG to work on a fresh challenge.

Englishman Buckingham will be joining from Melbourne City FC, where he was assistant coach to Patrick Kisnorbo, helping the club in winning the A-League Premiership and Championship double.

He made a significant contribution both on and off the pitch, taking charge of the team on three occasions during the 2020-’21 season in the absence of Kisnorbo, in which he had a perfect winning record.

Prior to joining Melbourne City, Buckingham became the youngest coach in A-League history when he took charge of Wellington Phoenix at the age of 31,…

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