MOHALI, JULY 15 — Punjab FC has officially entered a new era with the appointment of Pavlos Dermitzakis as head coach ahead of the 2026-27 Indian Super League campaign. The former Greek forward has penned a two-year deal with the Mohali-based outfit after concluding his stint with Greek Super League 2 side Panionios FC. The appointment represents a major statement of intent for the Shers, who are looking to establish a sustainable footballing philosophy.
The incoming manager brings a rich history of achieving promotions and maintaining home-ground dominance. Early in his coaching career, Dermitzakis secured promotion to the third division with Atsalenios and went on to record undefeated home runs in consecutive seasons with the club. He repeated this feat with GS Diagoras 1905, guiding them to the second tier of Greek football with an unbeaten home record. His administrative CV also includes handling the pressure of top-flight clubs like PAOK and Asteras Tripolis.
Speaking on his decision to embrace a new challenge in Indian football, Dermitzakis affirmed that the club’s desire to build a lasting legacy was a primary draw.
“What attracted me most was the vision of the club. Punjab FC is not just focused on results today, but on building something that can be successful for many years,” Dermitzakis affirmed. “The emphasis on developing young Indian players, combined with the ambition to compete at the highest level, made this a very exciting opportunity.”
The 57-year-old’s deep understanding of the sport stems from a robust 15-year playing career as a striker in Greece, where he recorded over 200 goals across more than 500 competitive appearances. The club’s management hopes that this extensive on-field and touchline experience will provide their young Indian roster with the guidance necessary to step up to the next level.
The manager declared that his previous success in cultivating talent and shaping structured teams directly aligns with his new role. He asserted that his background in forming highly competitive squads and fostering individual player growth matches the long-term goals of the franchise, stating that he is eager to start training sessions with the team.
