After less than a year in charge, Jose Carlos Rodriguez Hevia has split with Shillong Lajong FC, the club announced on social media today.
The Spaniard joined as head coach in July 2024. This was his second stint at the club, following on from his role as Technical Director from 2019 until he left during the Covid-19 pandemic the next year.
Soon after taking on the reins as head coach last year, Rodriguez Hevia led Lajong to the semifinals of the Durand Cup, where SLFC had the advantage of playing their matches in Shillong.
However, that momentum wasn’t carried into the I-League 2024-25. The Reds were unbeaten in seven of their first nine games but they didn’t end the season on a strong enough note and finished eighth, which was the same position they secured in 2023-24, when they were led by Bobby L Nongbet as head coach.
In its social media post, Lajong said the club and coach had “mutually decided to part ways.”
“We sincerely thank Coach Jose for his commitment, effort and leadership throughout his time with us. We wish him continued success in all his future pursuits,” it added.
When he was with Lajong in 2019, the club, which had been knocked out of the I-League a few months before, won both the Shillong Premier League and Meghalaya State League under Rodriguez Hevia. This past season the Spaniard focused on the senior I-League team, with Nongbet holding charge of the SPL and MSL sides.
