East Bengal gets a foreign coach

New Delhi: Soccer giants East Bengal have appointed Belgium's Philippe De Ridder as their new head coach, giving him a two-year contract.

Ridder, now associated with the IFA-CFS football academy in the city, replaces disgraced coach Subhas Bhowmick and is the first foreign coach of the club.

Armed with a UEFA 'B' coaching diploma, Ridder has a rich experience as coach in youth and academy programmes in several countries including USA, Argentina, Brazil, Togo, Thailand, Spain and Belgium.

"I am happy to be here and will try to do my best. Everywhere in the world a coach's job is at stake if he losses consecutive games. I will try not to face such a situation," said Rider.

"We are happy to have Rider as our coach. He is much decorated and will, hopefully, bring a change in the club's fortunes," said club secretary Kalyan Majumdar.

The contract has a termination clause on either side.