Mohun Bagan Super Giant on Wednesday parted ways with their Spanish head coach Juan Ferrando after the club’s poor run of form in ISL-X.

Technical director Antonio Lopez Habas will be the new head coach, starting with the Kalinga Super Cup from January 9, the club announced.Habas is in M adrid and is expected to land in the city next week.

Ferrando, 43, was appointed as Bagan (then ATK Mohun Bagan) head coach on December 21, 2021, joining the Calcutta heavyweights from FC Goa. Ferrando had replaced compatriot Habas at that time after activating his buy-out clause in FC Goa. He was then one of the most expensive coaches in the league.

Under Ferrando, Mohun Bagan won the ISL title last season and the Durand Cup in September but the club failed to go beyond the inter-zonal semi-finals of the AFC Cup last year and this time could not clear the group stage. In the AFC Cup, Bagan also conceded five goals against Odisha FC in a Group D match at the Salt Lake Stadium in November.

“Juan Ferrando has stepped down as Mohun Bagan Super Giant coach. Antonio Lopez Habas takes over as the new coach. He will take charge from the Super Cup. We thank Juan Ferrando for winning this year’s Durand Cup and ISL 2022-23,” Mohun Bagan Super Giant said in a brief statement.

Dogged by injuries, Bagan’s performance dipped in the ongoing ISL, losing three matches on the trot. They are now fifth in the ISL standings with 19 points from 10 matches. Ferrando’s decision to play with three backs also did not yield results as his defenders seemed to be all at sea with the system.

With Habas back at the helm, Bagan are expected to return to a four-man defence. Known for his defensive style of play, the 66-year-old is also expected to make some changes in the squad.

Anwar Ali’s injury on October 24 — the India defender is yet to return to competitive football — also did not help Ferrando’s cause. Add to that midfielder Ashique Kuruniyan’s ACL injury that ruled him out for the season. But Ferrando should be blamed for not keeping the reserve bench ready like Ivan Vukomanovic of Kerala Blasters who are missing the services of key players like Adrian Luna and Jeakson Singh. Blasters are now on top of the table with 26 points from 12 matches.

As Bagan, who enjoyed a seven-match unbeaten streak in ISL-X, stumbled against Mumbai City (December 20), FC Goa (December 23) and Kerala Blasters (December 27), the ever-demanding fans called for Ferrando’s sacking.

Habas previously managed ATK Mohun Bagan during the ISL 2021-22 season and he was the first head coach to win two ISL titles.

The Spaniard began his journey with Atletico de Kolkata during the inaugural 2014 edition and became the first head coach to win the ISL title.

He had a stint with FC Pune City later on before returning to India to join ATK FC, leading them to the ISL title during the 2019-20 season.

Habas was back at ATK Mohun Bagan the following season and guided them to the ISL final. He parted ways with the Mariners midway during the 2021-22 season with Ferrando taking charge.

Ahead of the ongoing season, Habas made a return to the Sanjiv Goenka-owned franchise, this time as the technical director. That decision had put pressure on Ferrando. The Spaniard had signed a one-year contract extension with Bagan which had raised quite a few eyebrows.

“One-year contracts are the best. I have been in this club since the middle of ISL-VII so I have a fair idea about the needs of this club. So from now on, I will take it one year at a time,” Ferrando had told The Telegraph days after signing the contract.

Mohun Bagan are clubbed with East Bengal, Hyderabad FC and Qualifer in the Super Cup.