Press Trust of India
Kolkata, July 8: Reigning ISL champions Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) announced Wednesday the appointment of sports director Alberto Marrero and new foreign recruit Valmiro Lopes Rocha (Valdo), ahead of the tournament’s domestic draft at Mumbai, July 10. However, officials stated that they were yet to identify the marquee player for the season.
“We are looking at different options and we have time till July 31 to announce the name. We are going to see the domestic draft and then a final decision will be taken,” ATK coach Antonio Lopez Habas informed when asked about the delay in announcing marquee player.
When asked whether former India captain Baichung Bhutia, who has recently been appointed as a consultant with ATK, would have a say in the choice of the marquee player, Habas said, “Anyone can have a say. But I am the head coach. I will have the final say.”
All the stakeholders of the team including birthday boy Sourav Ganguly were present during the occasion, where the new jersey for the upcoming season was also unveiled. “I thank you all for the overwhelming support last season. This time the responsibility is even bigger and our expectation is even higher,” co-owner Sanjiv Goenka told reporters here. “ATK will be seen in a more professional avatar from this season.”
ATK also welcomed coach Habas for his second stint. “We would like to thank our coach (Habas) for joining us again. We wish him the best for the upcoming season,” Goenka added.
New sports director Marrero had previously worked with Atletico Madrid as sports coordinator.