Renowned coaches like Sven-Goran Eriksson, José Pékerman, Eusebio Sacristan and Robbie Fowler have applied for the post of East Bengal’s head coach.

The century-old club is all set to become the 11th team of the Indian Super League after it became clear that the consortium of East Bengal and its investors Shree Cement is the lone bidder for a place in the country’s No. 1 league.

Swede Eriksson is a former England coach, while Pékerman managed Argentina in the 2006 World Cup and also guided Colombia to two World Cup finals (2014 and 2018).

The list doesn’t end here. Former India coach Stephen Constantine and Spaniard Mario Rivera, who was Quess East Bengal’s coach in the latter part of the last season, are also in the race.

“More than 10 foreign coaches, who are famous footballing minds, have already mailed their CVs,” one source told The Telegraph.

“The management though is yet to take a final call on the new coach. The investors are happy that famous names have showed their interest in becoming East Bengal’s coach.

“They are now waiting for the official announcement of East Bengal’s entry into ISL. Once that happens, the management will zero in on the coach,” the source informed.

The source added that once the name is finalised, team-building exercise would gather pace.

“After a series of meetings between the club officials and representatives of the investors, it was decided that the coach would be given a free hand in the signing of players,” the source said.

The tricky issue would be how to go about with the players East Bengal had signed before Shree Cement came on board. It’s unlikely that all of them would find a place in the new set-up.

“The new coach will be mailed video footages of the already-signed players. It would be the new coach’s discretion whom to keep and who would be shown the door,” the source said.