With Sporting Clube de Goa coming incredibly close to the I-League qualification last season, the club is focused on winning the championship this time around. At the helm is Fernando Santiago Varela, a 52-year-old coach who, having already secured a Durand Cup with Gokulam Kerala and a runners-up finish with Churchill Brothers in a previous stint in Goa, brings a level of experience that matches the club’s big ambitions.
Varela feels a deep connection being back in the state. “The weather in Goa is amazing and it is a place where people from all over the world are here,” he says.
For him, the beauty of the location is a bonus to the work being done on the pitch.
Sporting Clube de Goa who missed out on the I-League last season currently stands at the top of the Goa Professional league (GPL) 2025-2026.
“We must maintain the same mentality we showed reaching the end of last season,” Varela explains. “We have to keep that energy, but we also need to add more to the team to reach our goal.” says the Argentine-born Spanish coach who wants to take the momentum from last year’s final moments and push it even further.
The goal for the 2026-2027 season is simple. When asked what a “perfect season” looks like, Varela doesn’t talk about mid-table safety. He has a one-track mind: “Winning the I-League 2.”
The foundation is already being laid by the club’s GPL team, of which Varela sees this as a major advantage.
“The GPL team topping the league is important for the club’s future,” he says.
“We are looking at how those players could perform in the I-League 2 and what they can contribute.” He believes the management’s vision is about doing something different to truly help Indian football grow.
When asked about his coaching philosophy, Varela focuses on an attacking approach. However, he believes the “intention” behind the play matters more than any tactical drawing signifying that players must have the willingness to show something different and be unique on the field.
“The intention is the most important thing,” Varela says. The intention to win, to have the ball, and to show something different is what counts.” he further adds.
When asked about the cuisine of this sun-drenched coast, Varela didn’t shy away from his fondness for Goa’s seafood. “I love the Kingfish at Bay15,” he shared, further noting that the coastal views are what complete the experience.
Varela also places a huge emphasis on life outside of training. While he admits he is “more crazy” and intense during practice, he knows the real work happens when the players are on their own.
“What happens off of the training is more important,” Varela says.
“The players have to take care of themselves.” Focusing on usage of deep training and video sessions to help players read the game better, giving them the confidence to make their own decisions on the pitch.
To win a league as tough as I-League 2, Varela believes “The key is concentration during all games, being competitive until the end of every match. We have to continue fighting and solve mistakes fast without changing our objective.”
With the GPL side already winning and the new season of the I League approaching, Varela will play a central role in aligning the squad’s preparation with the club’s objectives for the season.
When asked for a message to the Sporting supporters eager to see him lead the club, Varela emphasized saying “The players are giving everything in each training session and are willing to improve and train with a high level of intensity with their ultimate vision focused on trying to win the title”.
