Have a look at the biography and coaching career journey of David Catala, who is set to become the next manager of Kerala Blasters
Kerala Blasters have officially confirmed the appointment of David Catala as their new head coach. The 44-year-old former Spanish footballer has signed a one-year contract and is set to assume his responsibilities immediately, as stated by the club. His arrival follows the team’s underwhelming campaign in the ISL 2024-25 season, which led to the departure of Mikael Stahre in December last year.
Who is David Catala, new Kerala Blasters FC ISL 2025 coach, bio, age, height, profile, coaching career, teams coached, player stats and Instagram
Notably, a string of disappointing results had prompted the club to part ways not only with Stahre but also with assistant coaches Björn Wesström and Frederico Pereira Morais. In the interim, the team’s reserve head coach and head of youth development, Tomasz Tchórz, along with assistant coach T.G. Purushothaman, had been entrusted with overseeing the remaining league fixtures. Under their guidance, the team managed to secure five victories from their last 12 matches.
Who is David Catala?
David Català began his career at Espanyol before establishing himself in the Segunda División, where he spent nine seasons playing for six different clubs, with notable stints at Salamanca and Celta. Over the course of his career in the division, he accumulated 274 appearances and netted 15 goals. He concluded his playing career after a seven-year tenure at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus, where he later transitioned into management. His managerial journey includes stints at AEK Larnaca and Apollon Limassol in the Cypriot First Division, NK Istra 1961 in the Croatian First Football League, and CE Sabadell in the Primera Federación.
Despite his managerial career, Catala has already secured a trophy as he won the 2022-23 Cypriot Super Cup with Apollon Limassol, defeating Omonia Nicosia in the final and Apollon had earned their place in the final after winning the Cypriot First Division the previous season.
Age 44 Spaniard Catala who is married to wife Imma has gained considerable experience leading teams in European competitionsand in the 2022-23 season, he led Apollon Limassol through the UEFA Europa League qualifications, overcoming challenging opponents such as Olympiakos. They secured a 1-1 draw at home, but fell short in the final game, losing 4-2 and after that, Apollon Limassol entered the UEFA Europa Conference League group stage, where they went up against teams like AZ Alkmaar from the Netherlands, SC Dnipro from Ukraine, and FC Vaduz from Switzerland.
Coaching Career:
AEK Larnaca, Cyprus
Apollon Limassol, Cyprus
NK Istra 1961, Croatia
CE Sabadell, Spain
Upon his appointment, Catala reportedly expressed his excitement about joining Kerala Blasters, describing it as an honor. He acknowledged the club’s deep-rooted football culture, the passionate fanbase, and the electrifying atmosphere at Kaloor. He was said to be eager to take on the challenge, emphasizing that the club deserved success and that he was fully committed to working towards it.
It’s done ✍🏻
Bienvenido David Català🤝💛#WelcomeDavid #KBFC #KeralaBlasters pic.twitter.com/iXaSXcoaIr
— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) March 25, 2025
Club CEO Abhik Chatterjee highlighted the qualities that made Catala the right choice, citing his determination, composure under pressure, and deep understanding of the game. Sporting Director Karolis Skinkys shared a similar view, stating that Catala’s ambition, leadership, and ability to unite the squad in challenging moments made him the ideal candidate. Catala is expected to arrive in Kochi soon, where he will begin preparations for the upcoming Super Cup.
know all details about Catala:
- Full Name: David Català Jiménez
- Date of Birth: 3 May 1980 (age 44)
- Place of Birth: Barcelona, Spain
- Height: 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
- Position: Centre-back
- Current Team: Kerala Blasters (Head Coach)
Fun Fact! 🟡
During his playing days (retired in 2019), David Català has played alongside the likes of Apostolos Giannou, Miku, Ferran Corominas and even played a minute of football with Mauricio Pochettino for Espanyol.
He's also played alongside names like Joselu, Michu etc. https://t.co/pAzYdC09VG pic.twitter.com/vSK7r3vM7x
— J O H N (@totalf0otball) March 25, 2025