East Bengal Football Club, one of India’s most historic football institutions, finds itself in an unfamiliar position—struggling consistently at the bottom half of the Indian Super League (ISL) table for the past five seasons, far from its former dominance. Despite a passionate fanbase, significant financial backing, and a legacy spanning over a century, the club has been plagued by poor performances, instability, and inconsistent player recruitment.
In contrast, several ISL clubs have flourished in recent years due to a structured approach, led by a Sporting Director who ensures continuity, a clear footballing philosophy, and long-term squad planning. The absence of such a figure at East Bengal has been one of the biggest reasons for its decline. If the club truly wants to compete with the best, hiring a Sporting Director is no longer an option—it’s a necessity.
The Role of a Sporting Director: A Game-Changer for ISL Clubs
A Sporting Director is responsible for defining a club’s footballing identity, overseeing recruitment, ensuring stability, and building a sustainable long-term vision.
In recent years, several ISL clubs have demonstrated how a well-structured management system, led by a Sporting Director, can transform their fortunes.
Mumbai City FC – The City Group Influence
Mumbai City FC has been one of the most well-run clubs in the ISL, thanks to its structured approach under the City Football Group (CFG) model. CFG’s Sporting Directors ensure that the club follows a consistent footballing philosophy across all levels, from youth development to first-team recruitment. This approach helped Mumbai City dominate the ISL, winning the League Winners’ Shield and ISL title in the 2020-21 season.
East Bengal, on the other hand, has lacked a clear identity on the pitch, with frequent managerial and player changes disrupting any sense of continuity. A Sporting Director could bring in a similar model, ensuring that the club builds a squad suited to a defined tactical philosophy rather than relying on short-term fixes.
Kerala Blasters – Stability Under Karolis Skinkys
Kerala Blasters, like East Bengal, struggled with inconsistency for several seasons. However, the arrival of Karolis Skinkys as Sporting Director in 2020 changed everything. Under his leadership, the club made smart foreign signings, promoted young Indian talents, and built a stable squad that could compete consistently. This resulted in the Blasters reaching the ISL final in the 2021-22 season and regaining their status as one of the league’s top teams.
East Bengal, on the other hand, has had no long-term planning in recruitment. Frequent changes in foreign players and coaching staff have led to poor squad balance and chemistry. A competent Sporting Director could ensure that the club follows a strategic, long-term approach rather than making panic-driven decisions.
Read more: ISL Playoffs Race: Three Spots, Six Teams – Who Will Make the Cut?
Mohun Bagan Super Giant – A Clear Vision with A Competitive Edge
Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), East Bengal’s biggest rival, has been another example of a well-structured football club. Under the ownership of RPSG Group, MBSG has maintained consistency in recruitment, squad planning, and coaching philosophy. This stability has resulted in them winning the ISL Trophy in 2022-23, the ISL Shield in 2023-24 and on course for another Shield in 2024-25 season and also consistently competing for top honors.
East Bengal, despite having similar financial backing in recent years, has failed to replicate this level of planning and execution. A Sporting Director would bring much-needed structure, ensuring the club is not left behind by its closest competitors.
NorthEast United — A clear vision under Mandar Tamhane
NorthEast United were always the under achievers in the Indian Super League and made the play-offs only twice. However, the scenario drastically changed with the inbound of the CEO Mandar Tamhane from Bengaluru FC in 2023, who made smart investments and signings within the limited budget he was provided to establish a style and identity to the club under coach Juan Pedro Benali and NorthEast United reaped the benifits as they won their first ever major trophy as they lifted the 2024 Durand Cup.
Punjab FC — a success story under Nikolaos Topoloatis
Nikolaos Topoliatis, appointed as Punjab FC’s football director in July 2020, has been instrumental in the club’s ascent in Indian football. Leveraging his extensive experience with Olympiacos’s youth teams, he implemented a robust development framework that culminated in Punjab FC’s I-League triumph in the 2022-23 season, securing their promotion to the Indian Super League. A key aspect of his success has been Punjab FC’s extensive scouting network, which has enabled the club to identify and recruit top talents like Madih Talal, Filip Mrzljak, Ivan Novosolec and others, strengthening their squad significantly.
Along with the success with the senior squad, Punjab FC boasts the best youth development program of the country winning the U21 Reliance Foundation Development League and then going on to defeat the likes of Everton and Aston Villa U19s in the PL NextGen Cup in 2024, clearly showing how a properly run club can achieve success story through structure and professionalism.
Where East Bengal Has Gone Wrong
1. Lack of a Recruitment Strategy – The club has signed players without a clear plan, leading to an unbalanced squad most of the times even while spending absolute fortunes.
2. Frequent Managerial Changes – Multiple head coaches in quick succession have prevented stability and progress. The process of also recruiting a coach without thinking about the style of play and the squad available for him too has costed the team multiple times.
3. No Long-Term Vision – Unlike other clubs, East Bengal lacks a roadmap for sustained success. Short term fixes have been tried and failed multiple times yet, a clear roadmap remains absent on how the club plans to move forward in the coming years.
Read more: Stranded and Shortchanged: How East Bengal’s Management Failed Oscar Bruzon When It Mattered Most
4. Underutilization of Youth Talent – The club has not invested enough in developing young Indian players. There have been a few youth players who promised in the RFDL tournaments yet their developments stagnated as most of them remain unused and without any proper competitive gametime. The youth talents also hardly receive any loan movements to I League or I League 2 clubs where they could have got playing time and develop further.
How a Sporting Director Can Fix These Issues
A Sporting Director at East Bengal would:
- Establish a clear footballing philosophy.
- Oversee recruitment based on a long-term vision, ensuring better squad balance.
- Provide stability by working with the coach rather than replacing them frequently.
- Develop a strong youth pipeline to build a sustainable future.
The Time is Now
East Bengal fans have endured enough heartbreak in recent years. If the club truly wants to compete with the best in the ISL and reclaim its place at the top, it must evolve with the modern game. The first step in that journey is hiring a competent Sporting Director who can provide stability, structure, and a winning mentality.
Without this crucial figure, East Bengal risks being left behind in Indian football’s rapid evolution. It’s time for the club to take the right step toward long-term success. Because history alone doesn’t win trophies—smart planning does.
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