Chennai
In his first assignment in India, the Englishman led CFC to its second Indian Super League title in the 2017-18 campaign, thus helping it become the first side from the competition to qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup. Despite a disappointing 2018-19 ISL season, Chennaiyin went on to finish as 2019 Super Cup runner-uplast month. It currently occupies top spot midway through the 2019 AFC Cup group stage.
“It truly is a great feeling to extend my stay with the Chennaiyin family. My journey so far in India has really given me the whole range of emotions and experience. I feel I have some unfinished business here. The objective is to reward our supporters with a memorable AFC Cup journey and to challenge for a third ISL trophy,” said Gregory who celebrated his 65th birthday with the contract renewal.
CFC co-owner Vita Dani was delighted with the latest development. “Gregory continuing to lead us is fantastic news for everyone associated with the club. Despite a difficult ISL campaign, the team has displayed incredible resolve to turn things around under his tutelage. We look forward to a memorable AFC Cup run before fighting it out for a coveted third ISL title next season.” Gregory’s first challenge after renewing terms will be the club’s first away AFC Cup group game as his side takes on Abahani Limited Dhaka at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Gregory was presented with the esteemed League Managers’ Association (LMA) Special Achievement Award in May last year for becoming the first Englishman to win the ISL trophy. Then in July 2018, he was awarded the ISL Coach of the Year trophy by the Association of Indian Football Coaches (AIFC) for winning the ISL in his first-ever coaching stint in India.
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