(Football news) Bhubaneswar based Indian Super League team Odisha FC have announced that they have reached an agreement with Spanish defender Victor Mongil in the upcoming eighth edition of the league.
Having started his career at Spanish club Valladolid, 29 year old Mongil represented their first team in the 2011-2012 season. He has also played for Atletico Madrid’s B team and Georgian professional club FC Dinamo Tbilisi in 2019 who won a title with him and Mongil played for the club in the UEFA Europa League as well.
The centre back has also played for ATK Mohun Bagan in the 2019-2020 ISL season where he won the title. He then returned to Dinamo Tbilisi again and has also played for the Spanish U-17 team.
Also read: Odisha FC Grassroots Tour begins from Gundichapada and Naranpur in Dhenkanal district
Speaking about the new signing, Club President Mr. Raj Athwal said, "We are very pleased to have secured the signature of Victor Mongil. A ball-playing centre-back, he reads the game well and has a winning mentality having won the league twice while at Dinamo Tbilisi and in the Indian Super League with ATK. Having played in Europe and the UEFA Europa League, Victor will bring stability and experience to our defence and will be a major influence on our younger players."
Odisha FC's newly-appointed Head Coach Kiko Ramirez stated, "One of the most important reasons why we approached him is that he is a versatile player and can play in various positions. He has great vision of the game (especially for long passes), is a great defender, who can play in all positions of the defensive line, and he also can act as a defensive midfielder giving balance to the team. Another important aspect is that he knows the League because he has won it, and has an advantage in helping new players to adapt to the competition. He is also a very competitive player and creates a good atmosphere in the locker room."
In his message after joining the Club, Victor expressed, "I am very excited and happy to join the Odisha Football Club. I am looking forward to having a wonderful time on the pitch for OFC and will definitely make the fans feel proud. C'mon Odisha, see you soon."