Shillong, July 18: Shillong Lajong FC have officially announced the appointment of Birendra Thapa as their new head coach, replacing Spanish tactician José Carlos Rodríguez Hevia, who parted ways with the club last month on mutual terms. The announcement was made via the club’s official social media handles on Friday.
Fondly known as Coach Biru, Thapa is no stranger to the Lajong family. A true veteran of the club, he has been associated with Shillong Lajong for close to two decades—first as a player and then in various coaching capacities.
His playing career with Lajong spanned from 2001 to 2009, during which he was a key figure in the squad that etched history by qualifying for the 2009–10 I-League season.
Following his retirement as a player, Thapa seamlessly transitioned into a coaching role, serving as Team Manager and Assistant Coach from 2009 to 2019. His coaching journey then took him to Mohammedan SC and Sreenidi Deccan, where he served as Assistant Coach between 2020 and 2024 before making his return to Shillong Lajong in the previous season as Assistant Coach during their I-League campaign.
Lajong also announced the appointment of George Vannie Lyngdoh Nongrang as the club’s new Assistant Coach. A former youth player for the club from 2013 to 2017, George returned in 2024 to be part of the coaching staff, further strengthening the club’s homegrown ethos.
Speaking exclusively to The Shillong Times, an elated Thapa expressed both humility and optimism upon taking charge.
“Honoured and humbled to be appointed as head coach. I’m thrilled and excited to take on this new challenge. Grateful to the club for the trust and support. I’m looking forward to working with the team, developing our players and achieving great things together. We are going to work hard, play smart and make our fans proud.”
Thapa also emphasised the strength and potential of the current squad, which predominantly comprises local talents.
“We have a very young squad of mostly local players and they are doing very well. For the last 3–4 years, I’ve been working with them and I’m very happy with their performance, hard work, and dedication. I believe we can achieve great things.”
Looking ahead to the Durand Cup and the upcoming I-League season, Thapa said the team’s approach will remain consistent—focused, determined, and ambitious.
“Regarding Durand, we are going to give our best and results will follow. For the I-League, we will go with the same approach and try to be in the best position in the table.”
The appointment of Birendra Thapa signals not just a change in leadership, but a return to the club’s roots—anchored in local pride, resilience, and a deep commitment to nurturing footballing talent from Meghalaya and the Northeast.
