SC East Bengal on Saturday announced the appointment of Spaniard Mario Rivera as head coach for the remainder of the Indian Super League season after, Jose Manuel Diaz was dismissed after a string of bad games.

Diaz was shown the door on Tuesday, in the middle of the season, after the club's eight-match winless run - four losses and four draws - and former India international Renedy Singh was appointed as interim coach.

For Rivera, it's a homecoming in a way, as he led East Bengal to second place in the I-League two seasons ago. Before, as requested, to take the reins, he was an assistant to former East Bengal coach Alejandro Menendez 32 matches in the season 2018-19 I-League.

"We are happy, that we appointed him as our head coach. Mario has been a part of East Bengal before and his experience in Indian football will benefit the team for the rest of the season,” said Director General SC East Bengal Colonel Shivaji Samaddar.

Rivera, UEFA Professional License holder, he will undergo a mandatory quarantine period according to ISL rules and will then take over the management of the team.

Under Diaz, SC East Bengal remain bottom of the table 11 of ISL teams with only four points.

SC East Bengal will next play against Bengaluru FC at the Bambolim ground on Tuesday.