Internet Desk: Hero Indian Super League Season 3 champion Atletico de Kolkata coach Jose Francisco Molina might not be seen in charge of the Kolkata based franchise as Adelaide United might rope in the Spanish coach. The chairman of the famous A-League side, Greg Griffin said that the coaching job is Guillermo Amor’s until the Spaniard says otherwise even though an ex-teammate of the Barcelona legend has been touted as a replacement, as per reports in Australian media.
Jose Francisco did a remarkable job for Atletico de Kolkata in the last season after another Spaniard Antonio Habas joined FC Pune City by leaving ATK. His tactical and smart football earned respect from all the critics.
Molina has been mentioned as a coaching candidate for Adelaide United should Amor leave.
But Griffin scoffed at suggestions Adelaide was lining up a shortlist to headhunt a new boss if Amor decided to walk away after winning the double last year.
Amor’s two-year contract comes to a close at season’s end and with John Aloisi — who was talked about as an Amor replacement last December — close to inking a Brisbane Roar extension this week. Thus Molina’s name has come to the fore. “There is no Plan B,’’ Griffin said. “Guillermo is more concerned about the team and that was the position he put to us in August and September.
“I started this process in August and September and his answer was ‘I’ll tell you when I’m ready.’
“As it progresses further and further in, the risk goes to us, we’re alert to that.”
Molina, 46, has strong ties with Atletico Madrid, where he starred for 189 games in La Liga.
The Reds are in the midst of forming a partnership with the Spanish giant.
Molina is also a legend of Deportivo La Coruna, where he starred before retiring 2007.
He has coached La Liga club Villarreal and was at Getafe B just before Reds striker Baba Diawara signed for the first team.
He took up the ATK job after walking away from Hong Kong club Kitchee (the ex-home of former Adelaide United’s coach Josep Gombau) in 2015.
Griffin is familiar with Molina but claimed no ‘final’ move had been made by the club as yet.
“Everyone that has said something to me I respond and say ‘there are no current vacancies on our coaching panel’,’’ Griffin said.
“It (Molina’s CV) hasn’t come as yet but maybe it’s coming.”
No doubt, if Molina becomes the new Adelaide United coach, the Atletico de Kolkata side will be under some serious trouble to find out his replacement.