Knee forces Houghton out; Toal steps in

National soccer coach Bob Houghton of England, is taking leave of his top job to undergo a knee operation, All India Football Federation AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi announced here today.

Houghton will set off for Cape Town he now resides there tomorrow, where he will remain for at least two months. Taking charge of the Indian team during that phase will be another British coach, Colin Toal. He will be designated technical director of the team.

Toal, whose name was referred by Houghton, has served as coach of a number of European clubs in a career spanning 30 years. He has also worked alongside Houghton in the past, with the latter his deputy for several years.

As chalked out by Dasmunsi, Toal8217;s job will not only be to look after the senior national team but also to conduct coaches8217; education programmes as well as oversee the progress of Under-19 and Under-17 squads.