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Indian Super League outfit Kerala Blasters have reportedly finalized appointing their new head coach for next season's edition of India's primary football tournament.
According to multiple reports, the Manjappadas have roped in former El Salvador manager David Doniga as their new head coach, while the contract negotiations are in the final stages.
Kerala Blasters have finalised their coach and are now into the final stages of contract negotiations. The club expects to have a coach in place in the next 2-3 days.#IndianFootball #ISL #KBFC
— Marcus Mergulhao (@MarcusMergulhao) March 24, 2025
David Doniga will reportedly acquire the Kerala Blasters' hot-seat
David Doniga has a very impressive coaching career despite taking up jobs mostly as an assistant manager. The 43-year-old Spanish tactician has gathered experience in coaching across 6 countries: Spain, Kuwait, Ecuador, Panama, El Salvador, and Bolivia.
Leading El Salvador to the CONCACAF Nations League A is the most praiseworthy feat Doniga has achieved so far in his career. The Spanish mastermind became the head coach of El Salvador in January 2024 before getting sacked a year later, in February 2025.
In the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League B Group A, El Salvador topped the group with five wins out of six games, earning promotion to League A, and earning qualification for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup as well under his managerial radar.
David Dóniga al frente de #LaSelecta:
— Josué Valiente (@JosueValiente47) February 24, 2025
🇸🇻 15 partidos dirigidos
✅ 7 victorias
🤝 4 empates
❌ 4 derrotas
⚽ 18 goles a favor
🛑 15 goles en contra pic.twitter.com/8mUH1ZGwVh
Interestingly, Doniga was on the sidelines when El Salvador faced world champions Argentina in a 0-3 defeat in Philadelphia, US on March 23, 2024. During his tenure, Doniga oversaw 14 matches with El Salvador, achieving 7 victories, 3 draws, and 4 losses
Doniga served as an assistant coach in Kuwaiti football in 2021 and was appointed as an assistant to Thomas Christiansen on the Panama national team, where he also led the under-23 squad.
The Spanish manager also became a crucial tactical brain behind Panama's brilliant run in the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifying, when Panama finished fifth on the table, missing out of the inter-continental play-off zone for only four points.
In 2022, he had a brief coaching stint with AD Nueve de Octubre in the Ecuadorian Liga Pro Serie A. After that, he worked with Sporting San Miguelito in Panamanian football from June to December 2023.
However, Doniga has experience working in LaLiga as well, having assisted Victor Sanchez as an assistant coach for Real Betis between November 2016 to May 2017. He also assisted Victor for clubs such as Spanish sides Deportivo, Malaga, and Greek side Olympiacos in different short stints.
Doniga holds a UEFA pro License as a coach, whereas he was also featured in the famous 'The Coaches Voice' back in September 2024.
However, nothing has been finalized and there is no official confirmation yet from Kerala Blasters concerning this appointment.