Bob Bootland

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. Bootland was described as "a taskmaster with a no-nonsense attitude." 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.

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." Bootland won the Rovers Cup with Dempo in only his second year in charge, 1978, After a brief spell as manager of the Indian national side in 1982, Bootland then coached club sides Sesa Goa FC and MRF FC, before becoming coach of Vasco SC. He was sacked as Vasco manager in October 1998. Bootland ended his coaching career with Tatas FC.

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

Honours Rovers Cup – 2 1978, 1986 Durand Cup – 1 1983

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

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