FC Goa have appointed former Las Palmas manager Sergio Lobera Rodriguez as their head coach for the upcoming ISL season.

Rodriguez, who was part of the late Tito Vilanova's backroom staff at FC Barcelona, will join Goa in the first week of July, having signed a two-year deal.

"I'm delighted to join FC Goa and play my part in a very exciting vision. I see Goa as the ideal step in my career and hope to achieve the best results for the club," Rodriguez said.

"The passion for football in Goa is well documented and I'm keen to ensure that we play an attacking brand of football that the people of Goa can be proud of.

"I'm keen to play my part in helping the club work towards a unified playing philosophy, which will extend beyond the realms of the club to all the young footballers in Goa who are keen to take up the game."

Akshay Tandon, the club's president, said Rodriguez had been chosen from among nearly 60 candidates because of his track record with promoting youth players.

"After the disappointment of last season, we were keen to bring some fresh ideas into the club while continuing to display an attacking brand of football," Tandon said.

"Having had the opportunity to go through his footballing philosophy and his style of work, we are confident in his ability to evolve the club to the next level."

FC Goa were coached by former Brazilian international Zico for the last three years. The club reached the playoffs in 2014 and did one better by making the final in 2015, eventually losing 3-2 to Chennaiyin FC. At the end of the 2016 season in which Goa finished bottom of the league, the club decided not to extend Zico's contract.