Kochi: Indian Super League (ISL) club Kerala Blasters are set to appoint Spaniard Kibu Vicuna as the club's new head coach.
The I-League champion will be bringing his own staff, including Polish assistant coach Tomasz Tchorz and a Lithuanian physical trainer.
According to sources close to the development, Kerala Blasters' newly-appointed Lithuanian sporting director Karolis Skinkys was influential in convincing Vicuna to agree to join the side which finished seventh in the 10-team league.
Young winger Nongdamba Naorem, 20, who did exceedingly well under Vicuna at Mohun Bagan, is also expected to return back to his parent club after joining the Mariners on loan.
With Mohun Bagan merging with ISL champions ATK from next season and the latter announcing that Antonio Habas, who led them to a record third title, will remain the head coach of the new club, it made sense for Vicuna to join Blasters. It was Blasters' third campaign without playoff qualification.