Kerala Blasters is set to part ways with David Catala after an extremely poor start to the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season.
Catala was appointed as head coach in March 2025 and made his debut in India with a 2-0 win over East Bengal in the Super Cup. However, the Blasters failed to go beyond the group stage in the tournament, and he returned to Spain amid growing uncertainty about the ISL.
After the ISL began, with his team playing the opening match, the Blasters have failed to win a single match, earning just one point — from a 1-1 draw with East Bengal — in six games.
The team languishes second from bottom in the table, with a lone goal and a single point keeping it above relegation-threatened Mohammedan Sporting Club.
The club decided to end the contract prematurely, just in time before the international break, so that it could scout replacements for the rest of the season.
Catala becomes the third head coach to part ways with the Blasters in the last two seasons, with Mikael Stahre leaving mid-season in 2024 and T. G. Purushothaman (along with assistant coach Tomasz Tchórz) departing at the end of last season.
The club has struggled for consistency since the exit of coach Ivan Vukomanovic, who led it to two playoffs and an ISL final in his four seasons here.
Published on Mar 22, 2026
