ISL 2025-26: Kerala Blasters to part ways with head coach David Catala

Kerala Blasters are set to part ways with David Catala after an extremely poor start to the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season.

Catala was appointed head coach in March 2025 and made his India debut with a 2-0 win over East Bengal in the Super Cup. However, the Blasters failed to progress beyond the group stages of the tournament and he returned to Spain amid growing uncertainty over the ISL.

After the ISL started, his team played the season opener and lost 0-2 to Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Since then, they have failed to win a single match, earning just one point – from a 1-1 draw against East Bengal – in six games so far.

The team is second from bottom in the table, one goal and one point above the relegation-threatened Mohammedan Sporting Club.

The club has decided to terminate the contract prematurely just before the international break, so that it can scout replacements for the rest of the season.

Catala becomes the third head coach to retire from the Blasters in the past two seasons. Mikael Stahre leaves mid-season in 2024 and TG Purushothaman (along with assistant coach Tomasz Tchórz) leaves at the end of last season.

The club has struggled for consistency since the departure of coach Ivan Vukomanovic, who led the club to two play-offs and an ISL final in his four seasons here.

Catala’s departure will be officially confirmed upon completion of the ongoing paperwork, after which the club will look for reinforcements.

Published on March 22, 2026