SHILLONG, July 12: Shillong Lajong Football Club announced the appointment of Jose Carlos Rodriguez Hevia from Spain as the new Head Coach for the 2024/25 season on Friday.
With a distinguished track record and profound understanding of the game, Jose brings extensive experience and a fresh perspective to the club.Jose returns to Shillong Lajong after a successful tenure in 2019, during which he led the team to victories in both the Shillong Premier League and the Meghalaya State League. A UEFA Pro licensed coach, Jose boasts over 25 years of coaching and management experience at various levels. His career began with managing clubs across Spain, and he later served as Technical Advisor for Arsenal Soccer Schools in India from November 2014 to July 2016, based in Pune. During this time, he was also a member of the Indian Super League team FC Pune City.
In 2017, Jose joined I-League club Minerva Punjab, working with both junior and senior teams and playing a key role in the development of players who represented India in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. Following his stint at Minerva Punjab, he became part of a joint venture between Madhya Bharat Sports Club and Celtic Soccer Academy.
Jose’s first spell with Shillong Lajong was during the 2019/2020 season, where he served as Technical Director, Coaching, and Youth Development, guiding the club to two major trophies. He then moved to Mohammedan SC for the 2020/21 season as Head Coach. His most recent coaching assignment was in Colombia, managing Gobernación del Atlántico in the 2022/23 season.
