Mumbai City FC on Monday announced the appointments of Clifford Rayes Miranda as assistant coach and Denis Kavan as strength and conditioning coach.
Clifford and Kavan will join head coach Petr Kratky’s staff on a two-year contract. Clifford is an AFC Pro Licence holder, having previously worked as an assistant coach with FC Goa, Odisha FC, and Mohun Bagan SG.
During his tenure, Clifford achieved significant success, including winning the ISL League Winners’ Shield with FC Goa and Mohun Bagan SG. Additionally, he led Odisha FC to victory in the 2023 Super Cup. A former India national team footballer, he has also previously coached the Indian U-23 men’s team.
Meanwhile, Kavan, a fitness coach hailing from the Czech Republic, has previously worked with several clubs across Europe and Asia, including Jablonec (Czech Republic), FC Dinamo and Gaz Metan (Romania), Panevezys (Lithuania), FC Seoul and Hanyang University (South Korea), Pafos and Karmiotissa (Cyprus), Botev Plovdiv (Bulgaria), and most recently Sepsi OSK (Romania).
This upcoming season will mark his foray into Indian football as he looks to help the players at the Club with his expertise.
After the announcement, Clifford expressed his delight. “I am delighted to join Mumbai City FC and Petr Kratky’s coaching staff. This is a dynamic set of players and a top-quality team. The club has consistently raised the standards in Indian football, and together, I believe we can achieve great things. I am excited to contribute to the club’s ongoing success and help push the boundaries even further,” he said according to club statement.
Kavan said, “I am excited to join the Mumbai City FC family and am confident that we can accomplish great things together. I eagerly anticipate coming to India and beginning this wonderful new chapter with my new team.”
Head coach Kratky stated that he is excited to work with the duo and said, “It will be exciting to work with Clifford and Denis in the upcoming seasons. Both are extremely talented in their own ways, and their presence in the setup will surely benefit the team. I hope we can push ourselves further this season at Mumbai City FC, and I am confident they will play significant roles in achieving that.”
Earlier in the day, Mumbai City FC announced that assistant coaches Hiroshi Miyazawa and Anthony Fernandes departed the club after their contract expired.