Kolkata: Panagiotis Dilmperis, popularly known as Panos, has been appointed as the new head coach of Mohun Bagan Super Giant on a one-year contract. The Greek tactician arrives after an impressive stint with Punjab FC, whom he joined last season following coaching assignments with several clubs in Greece’s first division. During his tenure, he delighted supporters by instilling an attractive and dynamic brand of football. His tactical acumen quickly turned heads in the Indian Super League, particularly due to his success in forging a highly competitive unit from a comparatively modest squad of new foreign recruits and emerging youth players.
Rooted in an attacking yet balanced footballing philosophy, the 51-year-old’s greatest asset is his proven ability to build seamless chemistry between seasoned veterans and young talents. This expertise in squad harmony and development ultimately convinced the Mohun Bagan Super Giant management to hand him the responsibility of managing the team for the upcoming season.
After signing the contract, Panagiotis Dilmperis shared his views discussing his footballing philosophy, coaching approach and expectations from Mohun Bagan’s star-studded squad.
Joining historic Bengal club Mohun Bagan, he acknowledged the club’s history and fans,”Mohun Bagan is much more than a football club—it is an institution with a remarkable history, a winning culture and one of the most passionate fanbases in Asia.”.
Regarding this season’s squad selection of Mohun Bagan till now, he said, “I believe we have a strong and talented squad with a good balance of experience and quality. Of course, every coach always looks for ways to improve, but my focus is on maximizing the potential of the players we have. Success comes not only from individual talent but from creating a united team with the right mentality, discipline and commitment”.
Addressing the huge fanbase and pressure of Mohun Bagan, Panos stated, “There is a saying “Pressure is a privilege”. At big clubs, expectations are always high and that is exactly how it should be. The passion of Mohun Bagan supporters is one of the club’s greatest strengths. Our responsibility is to earn their trust every day through hard work, professionalism and performances that reflect the values of this great club. We cannot promise victories every week, but we can promise a team that competes with courage, discipline and the desire to win every match”.
He also addressed the fans emotional connection and unique support of Mohun Bagan fans, “I have been fortunate to work at clubs with demanding supporters who expected success, but Mohun Bagan is unique. Even before arriving, I understood the emotional connection between the club and its fans. You can feel that this is more than football—it is identity, pride and tradition, that makes this challenge very special and I am excited to experience that atmosphere firsthand”.
Mohun Bagan are all set to face arch rival from Bengal – East Bengal in Durand Cup 2026 opener in few weeks in what will be the first assignment of Panos. Regarding this he said, “Football is built on great rivalries and the Kolkata Derby is one of the biggest and the most historic in world football. I know what it means to the supporters, to the players and to everyone connected with the club. The best way to prepare for such a match is not with emotions alone, but with excellent preparation, discipline and confidence. We will respect our opponents, but we will also play with courage and with the ambition expected from Mohun Bagan”.
Panos also made strong statement in his objective to win all trophies for Mohun Bagan. He said, “When you coach Mohun Bagan, the objective is always to compete for every trophy. We respect what has already been achieved because winning consecutive championships is never easy. Now our responsibility is to maintain those standards and continue building a team that plays attractive, disciplined and winning football. Every season is a new challenge and we start with humility, hard work and the ambition to bring more success to the club”.
He concluded with a message to all Mohun Bagan fans saying, “To all the Mohun Bagan supporters, I know how much this club means to you and I understand the responsibility that comes with wearing these colours. Together with management, my staff and the players, we will work every single day to make you proud. We will need your energy because football is always stronger when the team and its supporters move as one”.
