Bengaluru FC appoints Simon Grayson as Head Coach

Grayson,
who
has
over
500
appearances
as
a
player
in
England’s
top
divisions,
moved
into
management
in
2004
and
has
since
overseen
the
promotion
of
four
teams
in
the
English
Division,
in
a
managerial
career
that
has
spanned
across
728
games
and
seven
clubs.

“Coming
to
India
was
a
possibility
that
I
had
looked
into
two
years
ago.
But
the
pandemic
put
all
things
on
hold.
When
the
chance
came
across
again,
I
was
excited
to
look
into
it.
This
presents
a
new
opportunity
in
my
football
career
and
it
is
one
that
really
excites
me,”
said
Grayson,
after
completing
the
formalities
on
his
deal.

“When
I
spoke
to
the
owner,
his
mindset
was
the
same
as
mine.
I
want
this
club
to
be
winning
trophies
again.
I
am
aware
that
BFC
has
been
very
successful
in
the
past
but
the
last
few
years
haven’t
worked
out
like
everybody
would
have
liked
it
to.
That
happens
in
football
–
you
learn
from
it
and
strive
to
do
better
–
to
get
players
to
work
harder
on
the
pitch
and
off
the
pitch;
that’s
the
exciting
part
for
me,”
said
Grayson.

Grayson,
who
hails
from
North
Yorkshire,
has
overseen
the
promotion
of
four
teams
in
the
English
Division;
Blackpool
in
2007,
Leeds
United
in
2010,
Huddersfield
Town
in
2012
and
Preston
North
End
in
2015.
He
had
short
spells
at
Sunderland,
Bradford
City
and
Blackpool
before
most
recently
taking
charge
of
Fleetwood
Town
in
League
One.

The
fifty-two-year-old
said
he
was
impressed
by
the
little
he’s
managed
to
see
of
the
team
from
last
season,
and
is
confident
that
the
blend
of
youth
and
experience
in
the
Blues’ ranks
will
serve
as
a
good
base
from
where
the
club
can
build.

“BFC
have
some
very
good
young
players
coming
through
from
the
academy
and
hopefully
they’ve
learned
from
their
minutes
in
the
first
team
last
season.
I
truly
believe
that
they
can
be
a
massive
asset
to
the
football
club,
and
coupled
with
the
players
who
join,
I
think
this
is
the
perfect
opportunity
for
me,
especially
because
it
will
be
a
football
season
with
the
supporters.
I’m
coming
not
just
to
spend
a
period
of
time
learning
football
in
a
different
country.
I’m
coming
here
to
win
trophies
at
what
is
a
fantastic
football
club,”
added
Grayson.

As
a
player,
Grayson
came
through
the
youth
ranks
at
Leeds
United,
moving
on
to
Leicester
City
in
1992,
where
he
made
over
220
appearances
across
five
seasons.
With
Leicester,
he
secured
promotion
to
the
Premier
League
as
captain
and
also
won
the
English
League
Cup
in
1997,
scoring
in
the
semifinal
against
Wimbledon.

Speaking
on
the
appointment
of
Grayson,
Bengaluru
FC
Director,
Parth
Jindal
said,
“We
are
delighted
to
have
landed
Simon,
who
is
experienced
and
successful
as
both
–
a
player
and
a
manager.
His
records,
in
what
are
extremely
competitive
and
difficult
divisions
in
English
football,
speak
for
itself.
I
had
meetings
with
him
in
London,
and
it
was
evident
that
he
shared
our
vision
and
desire
to
bring
Bengaluru
FC
back
where
it
belongs.”

In
2004,
while
still
a
player
for
Blackpool
in
League
One,
Grayson
moved
into
a
coaching
role
with
the
Seasiders’
reserve
squad.
Two
years
later,
Grayson
called
time
on
a
playing
career
that
spanned
over
two
decades
to
focus
on
management.

“Simon
has
a
great
ability
to
work
with
young
players
and
bring
the
best
out
of
them,
as
well
as
a
very
strong
sense
of
how
to
get
the
best
out
of
experienced
players.
The
Bengaluru
FC
team
that
we
are
building
is
a
mix
of
experience
and
youth,
and
I
believe
Simon
is
the
right
man
to
bring
the
best
out
of
them,”
added
Jindal.

Bengaluru
FC
CEO
Mandar
Tamhane
said
that
Grayson’s
experiences
as
both
a
player
and
manager
played
a
vital
role
in
his
appointment,
with
the
52-year-old
serving
as
a
captain
on
several
occasions
in
his
playing
career.

“Grayson
comes
with
vast
experience
as
a
leader,
having
captained
Blackpool
and
Leicester
in
his
playing
days.
The
fact
that
he
has
seen
four
clubs
promoted
while
in
charge
as
manager
speaks
volumes
about
his
managerial
prowess.
His
experiences
as
a
player
and
manager
made
him
the
right
candidate,
and
we’re
excited
about
what
the
future
holds
for
this
football
club,” said
Tamhane.

Source:
BFC
Release