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Scotsman Owen Coyle was today appointed the new head coach of two-time ISL champions Chennaiyin FC, who had parted company with John Gregory last week.
The 53-year-old Coyle has been appointed by Chennaiyin until the end of the season, with the side currently 9th in the ISL standings after a disappointing start to the season that has seen them win one of their opening six games.
Coyle has managerial experience in the Premier League with Burnley and Bolton Wanderers. He was also the Burnley manager who secured promotion to the Premier League from the Championship, for the 2009-10 season.
He also took Bolton to the semifinal of the FA Cup in his first season in-charge of the team. Coyle's other managerial stints include periods at Wigan Athletic, Houston Dynamos in the USA, and Ross County in Scotland.
“I am incredibly proud to join Chennaiyin FC as their Head Coach. It will be my immense privilege to join a club with so much success already in its early history with two ISL titles. I believe we possess a squad with great potential and the hunger to do well, complimented by an ardent fanbase always backing us. I can’t wait to get started,” Coyle said to the Chennaiyin FC website.
“Owen (Coyle) is a renowned name in British football, with a fantastic career as both player and coach. We are really happy and excited to have him onboard. Our conversations with Owen have been really promising and we are certain he will steer us back to glory. I wish him the very best as he begins his tenure with us,” said the Chennaiyin FC co-owners (Vita Dani and Abhishek Bachchan) jointly.
Coyle's first task will be to bring Chennaiyin back into playoff contention this season, with the two-time champions currently languishing five points outside the playoff places.
His first game in charge will be away at high-flying Jamshedpur on the 9th of December.
