Bob Bootland Explained

Bob Bootland
Fullname:Robert Allison Bootland
Birth Place:Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Death Date: (aged 72)
Death Place:Bambolim, India
Manageryears1:1977–1982
Managerclubs1:Dempo SC
Manageryears2:1982
Managerclubs2:India
Manageryears3:
Managerclubs3:JCT Mills
Manageryears4:
Managerclubs4:Dempo SC
Manageryears5:1987
Managerclubs5:India (assistant coach)
Manageryears6:
Managerclubs6:Sesa Goa FC
Manageryears7:
Managerclubs7:MRF FC
Manageryears8:
Managerclubs8:Dempo SC
Manageryears9:????–1998
Managerclubs9:Vasco SC
Manageryears10:
Managerclubs10:Tatas FC

Robert Allison Bootland (died 13 June 2007) was an English professional football coach active primarily in India. He was the first foreign club coach in India.[1] [2] Bootland was described as "a taskmaster with a no-nonsense attitude."[1]

Career

Robert Allison Bootland was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He first arrived in India in 1977 as a tourist,[1] [3] and after being invited to watch a senior league game involving Dempo SC, Bootland decided to stay in India and become a full-time professional football coach.[1] [4]

Bootland began his football coaching career with Dempo SC, the same club which had inspired his new-found career. Bootland said, " had been to this wonderful land to meet my friend's parents. Dempo management invited to me to watch the game. I found the Goans good footballers. Soon the coaching offer came and I accepted it."[5] Bootland won the Rovers Cup with Dempo in only his second year in charge, 1978,[2] after introducing a 4–3–3 formation; the side was described as "[a] well balanced side" who were "in peak physical condition."[6] After a brief spell as manager of the Indian national side in 1982,[1] [2] Bootland then became coach of JCT Mills winning the Durand Cup in 1983.[2] Bootland later returned to Dempo SC, where he won the Rovers Cup for a second time in 1986.[2] Bootland returned to the Indian national side – this time as an assistant coach – in 1987 for that year's edition of the Nehru Cup.[7] Bootland then coached club sides Sesa Goa FC and MRF FC,[8] before becoming coach of Vasco SC. He was sacked as Vasco manager in October 1998.[8] Bootland ended his coaching career with Tatas FC.[1] [2]

In his later career, Bootland became an outspoken critic of Indian football, claiming that, "politics in Indian football is killing the players."[5]

Honours

Personal life

Bootland was married to an Indian woman named Fatima who was a schoolteacher and amateur athlete.[1] The couple had two sons named Allison and Ronald.[1]

Death

Bootland died on 13 June 2007 in a hospital in Bambolim after complaining of chest pains. He was aged either 72,[1] or 73.[2] The cause of death was later determined to be a heart attack.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Coach Bob Bootland dies. Pune. Micky. Aigner. 9 October 2009. 14 June 2007. indianexpress.com. The Indian Express. https://web.archive.org/web/20220607071532/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/coach-bob-bootland-dies/. 7 June 2022.
  2. Web site: Bob Bootland passes away. 9 October 2009. 14 June 2007. telegraphindia.com. The Telegraph. Kolkata, West Bengal. 23 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121023182922/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070614/asp/sports/story_7921103.asp. dead.
  3. Web site: The League of foreign coaches. timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Marcus. Mergulhao. The Times of India. TNN. Margao. 29 September 2008. 28 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20240616070718/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/the-league-of-foreign-coaches/articleshow/3537878.cms. 16 June 2024.
  4. Web site: Dempo Sports Club » List of Coaches. 19 October 2023. demposportsclub.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20240224203445/https://www.demposportsclub.com/club/coaches/. 24 February 2024.
  5. Web site: Politics killing Indian football. 9 October 2009. 8 August 1998. Dharmendra Jore. Indian Express.
  6. Web site: Dempo Sports Club: Looking ahead. 9 October 2009. Goa Football Association. 28 December 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081228132419/http://www.goa-fa.com/?q=node%2F10. live.
  7. Web site: Nehru Cup 1987. 9 October 2009. 8 July 2016. RSSSF. https://web.archive.org/web/20160708063851/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/nehru87.html. live.
  8. Web site: News for the month of October. 9 October 2009. Indian Football. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303183503/http://old.indianfootball.com/news/m199810.html. live.