The All India Football Federation on Wednesday appointed Portugal’s Luis Norton de Matos as the head coach of the India U-17 World Cup Team ahead of the marquee Fifa event to held in India later this year.

De Matos is a former striker who represented Portugal in the 1980s. He started his coaching career with second-division side Club Athletico in 1989. He was in charge of top-flight side Vitoria de Setubal in 2005 before becoming football director at Sporting Lisbon. De Matos has also been the national team coach of Guinea-Bissau.

He joins the India colts following months of uncertainty following the exit of former coach Nicolai Adam, who was accused by several players of being physically abusive.

The 63-year old Coach thanked AIFF for making him a “part of the project.”

“My role will be to orchestrate everything wherein the players will be playing their part,” he told the AIFF Committee. “I admire AIFF’s vision and the U-17 World Cup will act as a base for development of Football in India. The players need to believe in themselves to do something special for the Country,” he stated.

Matos, who met the AIFF Advisory Committee including representatives from Sports Authority of India on Monday evening, flew to Mumbai to meet with All India Football Federation President Mr. Praful Patel in Mumbai on Tuesday before being formally named as head coach.

“I do have an Indian connection as my great grandfather was born in Goa,” he informed. “I will retain the positives of the last two years as we move forward,” he maintained.