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GeneralHe is the man credited for turning around the fortunes of Dempo Sports Club after they were on the verge of shutting down following their relegation in the year 2000. But an Alex Ferguson like reign at the club meant that after twelve years at the helm, Armando Colaco had achieved what no other coach in Indian football could even come close to. Four League titles, a Federation Cup, two Super Cups and thrice in the AFC Cup knockout round including a magnificent run to the semi-finals in 2008 and twice in the AFC Champions League qualifying. Armando with his brilliant tactics and superb man management skills brought about a stunning transformation in Dempo Sports Club after they were on the verge of disbanding the team. His experience as a player too helped him in his coaching. He has an AFC “A” License course to his credit and is also an AFC and FIFA Coaching Instructor, one of the few coaching instructors in India. Mr. Armando Colaco had a distinguished career as a player. He represented India in the 1976 Presidents Cup in Seoul and also played for India against the visiting German and Malaysian national teams. He also represented the Goa State Football team in the senior Nationals and also represented the state in Hockey. He served Dempo Sports Club as a player with distinction 1973 to 1985 winning many All India football tournaments such as Rovers Cup, Nizam Gold Cup, Bordoloi Shield, Bandodkar Trophy and Stafford Cup. Soon after retiring Armando started his coaching career starting with Salcete F.C, Sesa Goa and also coached various state teams at National level tournaments winning many of them. He then moved to Churchill Brothers coaching them to a place in the AFC Cup, before joining Dempo Sports Club as a coach in 1999-2000. He is the only coach to take a team six times to the AFC Cup Championships, having done it once with Churchill Brothers and five times with Dempo Sports Club. He coached Dempo Sports Club to the Pomis Cup win in 1991, becoming the first Goan side to win an international tournament. He was declared as “The Best Coach of the Decade” by goal.com and also has the distinction of coaching the Indian National Team for the 2014 World Cup Qualifier against United Arab Emirates becoming the first Goan ever to coach the National football team. He was conferred “The best coach of the year” in 2009-10 by the Football Players Association of India. The Goa Sports Journalists Association and the Goa Football Association also conferred upon him “The Best Coach” award in 2005 and 2006 respectively. He was honored by the All India Football Federation winning the Best Coach award in 2004-05, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2009-10 after the I-League triumphs and the run to the AFC Cup semifinals in 2008. In recognition of his achievements the Goa Government conferred upon him the Jivabadda Kerkar Sports Award in 1985. He has also been nominated several times for the Dronacharya Award, the highest honour for a coach in India. He also doubles up as the Secretary of Dempo Sports Club giving his valuable time and utilizing his administrative skills. One of his major achievements as a coach was developing the GFA’s “D” License coaching course, a course that has helped train hundreds of young coaches in Goa.
