Chennai: Reigning champions Chennaiyin FC Monday appointed Englishman Paul Groves as its assistant coach for the next season of the India Super league. Groves replaces compatriot Mark Lillis.
The 52-year-old Groves, who was last working as first-team coach at Birmingham City last season reunites with head coach John Gregory and sports scientist Niall Clark, having worked with the two at Crawley Town in England’s League One in the 2014-15 season as first-team coach. Local favourite and former India international Syed Sabir Pasha continues as assistant coach.
“I am looking forward to working with John and Niall again and excited about working in India for the first time. Chennaiyin FC has a great mix of foreign and Indian players and the squad is shaping up well for the coming season. I am looking forward to helping the club defend the ISL title and progress as far as possible in the debut AFC Cup campaign,” Paul stated.
Head coach Gregory said, “Paul had an excellent playing career and has gone on to be a top class coach. He is a respected figure in the English game and I am sure we will benefit greatly from his technical and tactical knowledge.”
Following his retirement as a player in 2006, Groves joined the coaching staff at Portsmouth where he worked as first-team coach under former Chelsea manager and current NorthEast United head coach Avram Grant.