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News18
6 days ago
- Sport
- News18
ISL: Chennaiyin FC Mutually Part Ways With Head Coach Owen Coyle
Last Updated: Chennaiyin and Coyle have parted ways after a disappointing 2024-25 ISL season. Coyle, who led the team to the playoffs in 2023, leaves as one of ISL's most successful managers. Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Chennaiyin FC and head coach Owen Coyle have mutually agreed to part ways, the club announced on Thursday. 'Chennaiyin FC and Head Coach Owen Coyle have mutually agreed to part ways. We thank Vaathi for his invaluable contributions to the club and wish him the very best in his future endeavours," the club posted on X (formerly Twitter). Coyle had signed a contract extension in 2023 that was set to keep him at the club until 2026. Underwhelming Season Ends in Separation Chennaiyin FC endured a disappointing 2024–25 ISL campaign, finishing 11th in the standings with just seven wins in 24 matches. Although the season began promisingly under Coyle's leadership — with the club remaining unbeaten on the road and collecting seven points from their first four games — they failed to build on that momentum. Their campaign ended on a high note with a dominant 5-2 home win over Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but it wasn't enough to salvage the season or the coach's position. This marked Coyle's second tenure at Chennaiyin. He first took over during the 2019–20 season, guiding the club from the brink of elimination to a remarkable ISL final appearance. After returning in 2023, he once again made an immediate impact, steering Chennaiyin into the playoffs for the first time in four years. Widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in ISL history, the Scottish tactician previously won the ISL Shield with Jamshedpur FC and was celebrated for his ability to develop local talent, aligning well with Chennaiyin's vision of nurturing young Indian players. ISL 2025–26 Season on Hold Amid Uncertainty In a related development, the Indian Super League's 2025–26 season has been put on hold due to unresolved contractual issues between Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). FSDL, a subsidiary of IMG Reliance and the ISL's official organizer, issued a letter to participating clubs stating it could not 'effectively plan, organise, or commercialise the 2025–26 ISL season" in the absence of a new agreement. The Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between FSDL and AIFF is set to expire on December 8, 2025, and negotiations for an extension have stalled, prompting the league to temporarily suspend planning activities for the upcoming season. view comments First Published: July 17, 2025, 17:39 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Indian Super League: Chennaiyin FC, Owen Coyle part ways by mutual consent
Chennaiyin FC have officially parted ways with head coach Owen Coyle, ending the Scotsman's second stint with the club. The decision was confirmed on Thursday, July 17, via a social media post thanking Coyle for his contributions and wishing him well for the return ahead of the 2023–24 season came with high expectations. In his previous spell during the 2019–20 campaign, he had turned around a struggling side and led them to the Indian Super League (ISL) final. However, his second stint failed to replicate that success. Chennaiyin FC finished 11th in the standings with just 27 points from 24 matches, a disappointing outcome for a club with a strong fan base and history in the league. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chennaiyin FC (@chennaiyinfc)advertisementThroughout the season, the team struggled for consistency. Their home form was particularly poor, with only three wins at the Marina Arena. While they managed four wins on the road, it wasn't enough to sustain a playoff challenge. Defensive lapses proved to be a recurring issue, with the team dropping 11 points from winning positions — a stat that highlighted their inability to close out games and maintain control under pressure. Despite the team's struggles, there were a few positives. One of the brightest sparks was young Indian striker Irfan Yadwad, who thrived under Coyle's guidance. He ended the regular season with the highest number of goal contributions by an Indian player, showcasing his potential and making a strong case for national team departure has also been followed by the exit of one of his trusted players, Conor Shields. These exits suggest that a major rebuild may be in the works as the club looks to start the same time, uncertainty continues to cloud the broader landscape of Indian football, with the ongoing standoff between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) regarding the league's Master Rights Agreement. This has added to the delays in off-season planning for several ISL FC are yet to announce a new head coach, but the next appointment could be a crucial one. With the right leadership and clearer direction, the club will be hoping to return to the playoff mix and re-establish themselves as one of the ISL's competitive forces.- Ends
Pink Villa
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
THROWBACK: When Lionel Messi sent a signed gift for MS Dhoni's daughter Ziva
In December 2022, Lionel Messi sent a souvenir with a personal message to Ziva Dhoni, immediately captivating fans everywhere. At seven years old, Ziva posed proudly with the memento, pointing at Messi's inscription and signature. The gesture truly brought into focus MS Dhoni's well-known love for football and introduced Ziva as a budding fan of the sport. Now, in June 2025, that moment feels even more significant after Messi and Dhoni recently appeared together in a popular advertisement. Here's what happened back then. What did Ziva Dhoni receive from Lionel Messi? Messi had celebrated Argentina's World Cup win by extending his joy beyond the field in late December 2022. He sent a signed Argentina jersey with a personal note saying 'Para Ziva,' meaning 'For Ziva.' The gift was shared on Ziva's official Instagram (managed by her parents) with the caption 'Like father, like daughter.' The jersey had arrived just days after Argentina's victory over France. For Ziva, it was more than a jersey. It was an introduction to football fandom inherited from her father. At the time, First Post had noted that the photo quickly gathered over two hundred thousand likes. Today, the post sits at over a million. Ziva's fandom and Dhoni's football roots Ziva's zest for the sport did not blossom overnight. It likely sprang from Dhoni's own passion for football, which runs quite deep. He once aspired to be a goalkeeper, and now co-owns Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League. According to the cited source, Dhoni has trained with the squad and supports clubs like Manchester United. Ziva has clearly inherited this interest. Seeing her point at Messi's signature made it clear she follows in Dhoni's footsteps. Jay Shah also received Messi's autograph Ziva wasn't the only Indian recipient of Messi's generosity. Around the same time, the six-time Golden Boot winner also sent a signed jersey to BCCI secretary Jay Shah. As reported by the mentioned publication, former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha posted a picture of Shah holding the autographed shirt, with 'GOAT sends his best wishes and signed match jersey for jay bhai!' written on it. Ojha even joked about hoping to get one for himself soon. From a viral 2022 post to an on-screen collaboration in 2025 Though the jersey made waves in late 2022, Dhoni and Messi's association didn't end there. In April 2025, Dhoni and Messi appeared together in an advertisement for a popular chips brand. This video had amassed nearly a million likes within 24 hours. Fans watched the two legends share playful football moments as they passed the ball through screens across the world.
India Gazette
22-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Connor Shields, the lone bright spot in Chennaiyin FC's disappointing ISL campaign
New Delhi [India] June 22 (ANI): Chennaiyin FC's Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 campaign came to a disappointing end, with no playoff berth and a lowly 11th-place finish. Amid the frustration and fading hopes, one name stood out, Connor Shields, a rare bright spark in an otherwise forgettable season, as per the official website of ISL. The Scottish forward might now be leaving the club, but the mark he left on the league in the 2024-25 season will be remembered for a long time. In a team that struggled to stay afloat, Shields looked like a player operating on a different wavelength. Chennaiyin FC may not have had a season to remember, but Shields certainly did. For context, Chennaiyin FC finished sixth in the ISL 2023-24 season and made it to the playoffs. In 2024-25, they dropped to 11th. Fewer wins, fewer reasons to smile. They managed to score 34 goals in the league stage, eight more than they had in the previous league season. That attacking output had a lot to do with Shields working his socks off down the right. Shields took up an attacking role under head coach Owen Coyle and went on to become an effective creator-in-chief in the league, and the numbers prove it. He provided a league-high eight assists, more than anyone else in the ISL. He also created 76 chances, which wasn't just the best in the season, but the highest ever recorded by any player in a single ISL campaign. During the 2024-25 campaign, that was 21 more than the next best, Kerala Blasters FC's Adrian Luna, who is no stranger to dominating creativity charts himself. In a team that was ranked sixth for chances created overall, Shields was the creative core. Chennaiyin FC didn't dominate the ball (they ranked bottom for successful passes completed), but when the ball did reach him, Shields made it count. It's easy to see how his role change made a difference. In 2023-24, Coyle used Shields in various roles, and he adapted well. His work rate and confidence with the ball allowed him to grow into the side and he even came second only to Rafael Crivellaro for chances created (31) among Chennaiyin FC players. He made 761 touches, completed 29 key passes and was instrumental in transitions. Fast forward to 2024-25, and Coyle unlocked another dimension in him as a right winger. This gave Shields the freedom to exploit space, get behind defenders, to deliver, and the Scotsman did. He upped his key passes tally from 29 to 68. His successful dribbles jumped from 10 to 21, and his overall touches rose to 918, the second-highest in the entire Chennaiyin FC squad, in a team that rarely kept the ball. He wasn't just involved, he was central. The positional shift also added new layers to his game. His crossing, especially from set pieces, was among the most threatening in the league. Defenders knew what was coming, and they just couldn't stop it. For Coyle, Shields was close to irreplaceable. He played multiple roles across two seasons and thrived in everything. He tracked back, sprayed passes, ran into channels, delivered from dead-ball situations and popped up in key attacking areas. He also brought something that doesn't show up on stat sheets, which was reliability. Across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, Chennaiyin FC never lost a game in which Shields scored or assisted. That's the kind of impact coaches dream of, one that would benefit any team. Even when goals didn't come, his effort rarely dropped, and fans noticed. In a season where things rarely clicked for Chennaiyin FC, the one thing they could bank on was Shields putting in a shift. Chennaiyin FC will now have to look at replacing someone who topped the assist charts, set a new record for chances created and outshone most attackers in the league; all in a side that finished 11th. Shields might not have won any silverware, but he did become a player that the club will remember for a long time. One who gave them hope when things were falling apart. One who showed up and stood out. His departure leaves a creative vacuum that will take some filling. For Chennaiyin FC, the challenge is now to build again. But for a moment, they had one of the best players in the league who gave them everything. (ANI)
India Gazette
21-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Chennaiyin FC bid farewell to Connor Shields
ANI 21 Jun 2025, 09:34 GMT+10 New Delhi [India], June 21 (ANI): Indian Super League (ISL) club Chennaiyin FC (CFC) announced the departure of Connor Shields on Friday. Shields joined the Marina Machans in 2023. In 21 appearances, he recorded five goal contributions in his debut season, as per the ISL press release. Shields' versatility brought in a significant dimension to the CFC's playing style, as he was deployed in various roles across midfield and attack. He excelled in almost every position, showcasing his adaptability and understanding of the game. Shields' ability to create chances and contribute goals made Chennaiyin FC a more dangerous attacking side. Coyle's side reached the playoffs in the 2023-24 season and bettered their goal tally the following season despite finishing 11th. The Scottish playmaker featured in 21 games and was the driving force for the Marina Machans all throughout the 2024-25 season. He was a prolific chance creator for Owen Coyle's team, as he recorded the highest number of 76 chances. Shields also recorded eight assists to his name, the highest by any player in the 2024-25 season. He completed 358 successful passes and attempted 21 successful dribbles. He also played a crucial role defensively, winning 84 duels and completing 107 recoveries. (ANI)
