The Coaches Who Could Change the Game: MPL 2025-26 Season Preview

by FC November 20, 2025

The Mumbai Premier League (MPL) 2025-26 season, kicking off on December 1st, is set to witness an unprecedented battle of wits on the sidelines. The biggest acquisitions this pre-season haven’t been goal-scoring strikers or commanding defenders; they are the coaches.

A powerful wave of highly qualified, internationally experienced, and proven managerial has descended upon the MPL this season, signaling a massive leap in the league’s tactical maturity and overall quality. This year, success won’t just depend on player talent, it might be decided by the masterminds dictating the strategy.

The most compelling narrative of the upcoming season is the arrival of four tacticians bringing top-tier expertise into the heart of Mumbai football.

The Indian International: Adil Khan (Hope United FC)

Hope United has secured a significant coup by appointing Adil Khan as their new Head Coach. As a former India International player and an AFC A License holder, Khan brings vast experience from playing at the highest level of Indian football. His transition from an elite player to a head coach will be closely watched, as he attempts to translate his top-level understanding of the game into immediate results for Hope United. Last season Adil Khan was assistant coach of Geno Football Club in the Goa Professional League who finished 3rd in the GPL 2024-25. it will be interesting to see him leading the sidelines this time.

The European Structurist: Steve Herbots (Mumbay FC)

Mumbay FC, who impressively finished 4th in their debut season, has enforced their ambitions with the hiring of Steve Herbots. Holding a Belgian FA A License as well as a UEFA B License, Herbots brings a strong professional structure to the club. He is far from a stranger to Indian conditions, having managed West Bengal’s United SC in the I-League 2 since 2021. Herbots is tasked with building on Mumbay FC’s initial success and cementing their place as consistent title contenders.

The National Pedigree: Floyd Pinto (Iron Born)

Following the departure of their previous coach, Iron Born has brought in the managerial acumen of Floyd Pinto. As an AFC A Licensed coach, Pinto carries an impressive managerial career built at the national level. His roles have included Assistant Coach for India U17 during the 2017 World Cup campaign, and subsequent Head Coach positions for the India U19 and Indian Arrows teams from 2017 to 2019. More recently, he has served as an assistant at ISL clubs like RoundGlass Punjab, NorthEast United, and Odisha FC. Pinto’s wealth of experience in youth development and professional league settings makes him a highly impactful appointment.

The Pro License : Shameel Chembakath (Reliance Foundation Young Champs)

The arrival of Shameel Chembakath at Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) marks a new era for the renowned academy team. Shameel holds the prestigious AFC Pro License, the highest coaching qualification in Asia, and was recently the head coach of Hyderabad FC, along with previous experience at Kerala Blasters FC. His mandate is to fuse elite tactical knowledge with RFYC’s pipeline of talent, potentially setting a new and formidable standard for youth football in the MPL.

While the debutants command attention, the established coaches who have delivered success continue their campaigns with stability and renewed purpose:

Yash Shah, the coach who orchestrated India On Track (IOT FC)’s consecutive promotions and ultimate victory in the top-tier, returns to lead the defending champions. Shah will look to maintain IOT FC’s dominance by blending proven experience with a core of young talent. Another one to add is Vijith Shetty who led MYJ Mumbai to two successive finals in the MPL and also to the I-League 2.

Similarly, Clinton D’souza and his coaching staff provide continuity for MH Oranje FC, a powerful weapon in a league facing a massive injection of their existing philosophy.

Finally, attention must be paid to the coaches of the newly promoted sides. Ashutosh Rathod leads Champions Mumbai Soccer Prodigies, and Santosh Koli, an experienced player and AFC A-licensed coach, aims to shower the name of Madh-Island on top of Mumbai football with Waves FC. The Mumbai Ultras, under the experienced Head Coach Albinus Chettiar, have proactively prepared with a dedicated pre-season camp in Pune,their commitment to competing effectively against the new league conditions.

The influx of such high-level coaching talent—from the star power of Adil Khan to the tactical depth of Floyd Pinto and the Pro License prestige of Shameel Chembakath, confirms that the Mumbai Premier League is aggressively leveling up this season.

This season promises a high-stakes tactical war fought on every match day. The coaches are ready, the teams are set, and the fate of the 2025-26 MPL trophy will ultimately rest on the strategies conceived by the men on the sidelines.

Mumbai Super League Fixtures, Standings and News – Click Here

Mumbai Premier League News – Click Here

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.