Who is David Català? Kerala Blasters' new head coach from Spain

Kerala Blasters FC has appointed David Català Jiménez as their new head coach, following the departure of Mikael Stahre. The club announced Català's appointment on their official social media channels, confirming that he has signed a one-year contract with the team.

Català, a former professional footballer from Spain, played as a central defender during his career. He began his playing career at RCD Espanyol and went on to spend the majority of his time in Spain's Segunda División, representing several clubs, including UD Salamanca and RC Celta de Vigo. Over his career, Català made over 270 appearances and scored 15 goals in the league. He also played a key role in Celta’s promotion to La Liga in 2012 before moving abroad to Cyprus, where he spent several successful years at AEK Larnaca FC.

After retiring from playing in 2019, Català transitioned into coaching. He began his managerial career with AEK Larnaca, where he took over as head coach in 2021. He then moved on to manage Apollon Limassol in the Cypriot First Division, followed by a short stint with NK Istra 1961 in Croatia. Most recently, he managed CE Sabadell FC in Spain's Segunda Federación before being dismissed in January 2025.

Català is set to join the Blasters squad in Kochi immediately as they prepare for the upcoming Super Cup.