Shillong Lajong FC is a pivotal entity in Indian football. It plays a crucial role in developing young talent, especially in the Northeast region. The club was established in 1983. It has a distinguished history, becoming the first club from the region to participate in the I-League. Since then, the club has established a strong presence in Indian football in recognizing and nurturing talent.
In the summer of 2024, José Hevia returned to Shillong Lajong FC for his second tenure with a renewed purpose ahead of the new I-League season. The 52-year-old has been a well respected personality in the Indian Football circuit having started in a youth coach role at Arsenal Soccer Schools at Pune.
The Spaniard was also involved with FC Pune City academy in the same period and then moved to Minerva Punjab FC overlooking both the junior and the senior team.
José, then moved to Shillong Lajong in 2019-20 season overlooking the academy as well as the senior team. Unfortunately, due to COVID pandemic, Jose and Lajong seperated but Jose insisted he would come again to Lajong one day.
José’s latest stint in India was with now ISL side Mohammedan Sporting Club in the I-League. Post the stint with Kolkata Giants, he went to Colombia in a coach educator role with Columbian FA.
In an exclusive interview with Field Vision, the Spaniard, discussed his motivations for returning to the Northeast and outlined his vision for the team.
Excerpts from the conversation are below:
The motivations behind returning to Lajong
When asked about his decision to return to Shillong Lajong after a stint in Colombia, José Hevia spoke candidly about the emotional and professional motivations behind his comeback. Speaking on his return , he shared how an unfinished chapter with the club, disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, laid the foundation for his return.
“First, because when we had to cancel our relationship in 2020 because of COVID, we promised each other to be together again for a new project. Sadly, due to the circumstances, it wasn’t possible before,” Hevia revealed. “But after almost two years of conversations, the management presented the project to me again, and this time, it felt like the right moment.”
The pull of returning to Indian football and the unique pull of Shillong proved irresistible for the coach as he reflected on his decision to join a new football project. Speaking candidly about the decision-making process, he admitted it wasn’t an easy or immediate choice.
“I had to put many things on the balance. It wasn’t an immediate yes,” he said, indicating the weight of considerations that preceded his acceptance. However, it was the ambition of the project combined with his deep connection to Shillong and Indian football that ultimately tipped the scales. “The ambition of this project and my connection with Shillong and Indian football ultimately made it impossible to say no.”
Hevia described how the ambitious vision of the club for its next stage convinced him to make the decision despite having a compelling offer from Spain at the time.
In his signature poetic style, Hevia compared the opportunity to a passing train stating, “You know, the train passes once, and if you don’t take it, you might regret it for life. I didn’t want to miss this chance to be part of something special again.”
Changes at Shillong Lajong since 2019
Speaking of his return and the changes he saw as compared to his previous stint at Shillong Lajong in 2019, Jose Hevia said he is witnessing a blend of familiarity and transformation at the club. While the team retains its familial essence, its ambitions have grown significantly.
“Basically, the spirit of the club is the same—it’s a family club, a small club,” Hevia shared. “It’s not like the big ones in India, like East Bengal, Bengaluru FC, or Mumbai City FC. But what makes it special is the atmosphere, which remains warm and supportive.”
What sets the ongoing stint apart,is the club’s newfound ambition. According to Hevia, the organization has shifted from a primarily community-focused ethos to one that embraces growth and competition at the highest levels.
“The vision of the club now is completely different from what it was in 2019. This time, it’s an ambitious project,” he explained. “The club is focused on growth and aims to become one of the strongest clubs in India, and that is the main difference—this forward-looking project, the desire to grow and compete at a higher level.”
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Role in Colombia before returning to Shillong Lajong
Before rejoining Shillong Lajong, José Hevia was engaged in a coach education role with the Colombian Football Federation, contributing to an ambitious project aimed at enhancing youth football development.
Drawing on his extensive experience in Spanish football methodology, Hevia focused on implementing structured training techniques across Colombia’s youth football ecosystem.
“I was working on an ambitious project to introduce Spanish methodology,” Hevia explained. “There’s a direct relationship between the challenges I saw in India before with youth coaches and the issues faced by youth coaches in Colombia. The project offered me a familiar challenge, similar to what I worked on in Shillong in 2019.”
On Shillong Lajong’s role in player development in India
Shillong Lajong FC has established itself as a prime example of how a focused and well-executed approach to youth development can yield remarkable results in Indian football. José Hevia, speaking about the club’s contribution to nurturing talent, praised its commitment to fostering homegrown players.
“Shillong Lajong is a great example of how proper work can deliver excellent results,” Hevia remarked. “I feel very comfortable working with players who have come through the club’s youth system. They are ambitious and hungry, which is key to their development.”
He emphasized the deep sense of belonging that players from the youth academy bring to the senior team. Currently, as claimed by Hevia, Lajong’s senior squad includes 15-16 players who have risen through the ranks, spending a minimum of five years in the club’s setup.
“When you are part of this club, you feel like you belong. It’s similar to what people talk about with Barcelona’s youth players—the feeling they’ve developed after being with the club for a long time. That’s what happens here in Shillong. These players have a connection with Shillong Lajong that goes beyond football. It’s a bond that shapes their performance on the field, making it distinct from players who come from outside. They carry the pride of Meghalaya and Shillong every time they play.”
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Goals for the upcoming season
For José Hevia, the upcoming season with Shillong Lajong is about blending realism with ambition as he looks to guide the club towards greater heights.
Reflecting on the team’s performance in the recent Durand Cup, the Spanish tactician is confident in the squad’s ability to compete at the highest level if they remain focused on development and disciplined execution.
“We are going to go step by step, but why not? We have to be ambitious,” Hevia stated. “We’ve got a good squad, and what we did in the Durand Cup is evidence that if the players implement what we work on every day in training, they can beat any team.”
Hevia pointed to the team’s semi-final clash against NorthEast United as a prime example of their potential. While Shillong Lajong fell short in that match against the eventual champions, he believes the outcome was more about missed opportunities than a gap in quality.
“Even in the semi-final against NorthEast United, it wasn’t about them being better—it was about us not fully capitalizing on our potential,” he explained.
Hevia emphasized a game-by-game approach, focusing on consistency and gradual improvement.
“We’re going to be cautious and take things little by little, but always with the mindset of winning every match. Why not aim for the top?”
The second part of the interview will published in the next few days
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