Guwahati, Oct 18: NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali says patience and humility are among the biggest lessons he has learnt during his time in India, as the Spaniard continues to be the longest-serving head coach of a single Indian Super League (ISL) club.
Benali joined the Guwahati-based club in 2023 and has since overseen one of the most successful periods in its history, guiding the Highlanders to back-to-back Durand Cup titles in 2024 and 2025.
Reflecting on how his approach has changed since arriving in India, Benali said he has become more patient after experiencing a different football environment and learning from the people around him.
“I have learned to be more patient. In the beginning, I was not so patient. This is why I ask my players to be more patient. This is true. Life turns differently,” Benali told The Assam Tribune in Guwahati on Saturday.
The Spaniard, who has worked across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East, said his experiences in India have also reinforced the importance of learning before expressing an opinion.
“First, learn from everyone before you start giving your opinion. That is important. I have learned something very important that I can take with me for the rest of my life, and I try to educate my son in the same way: be humble,” he said.
Benali admitted that the situation he encountered after arriving in Guwahati was different from what he had initially imagined, particularly in terms of facilities available for football and players.
However, he said the experience taught him to make the best of the resources at his disposal.
“I have learned humility from many people who work with me and many people who live around me here. That is really important. That modesty makes me proud to be around the people here,” Benali said.
The 57-year-old also played down the significance of being the longest-serving coach in ISL history, saying the achievement reflected the stability and long-term vision of the club rather than an individual accomplishment.
“It is really an honour. But the most important thing is that it is not about me. It is about the club, with John Abraham, Mandar Tamhane and everyone working in the club,” he said.
“I am not the longest-serving person at the club. There are many people who have been here longer than me. It shows that the vision of the ownership of the club is clear. They want to have a family and build something for the long term.”
The ISL 2026-27 season has also begun strongly in terms of viewership, with the league recording 65 million YouTube views and reaching 52 million viewers across its opening five matches. NorthEast United's match against Mohun Bagan Super Giant emerged as the most-viewed fixture on the English feed, recording 17 million views on October 12.
Benali believes those figures underline the potential of football in India.
“When you say India, people say there is no football. I said, OK, there is no football. But how many people love football in India? Ten percent? Ten per cent is 150 million people.”
“In Spain, maybe 70 per cent love football. Seventy per cent of 40 million is around 30 million. That is the big difference.”
“There are 150 million people who love football. Let's do business with 150 million people. It is normal. Now we know that the clubs know there are fans and there is a huge following. Let's focus on the important matter.”
Benali's tenure has coincided with NorthEast United's rise in Indian football, with the club now looking to build on its recent success in the ongoing ISL season.