Former Leeds United striker Robbie Fowler explains move to India to become head coach of East Bengal

Fowler has already taken his first steps into management with a short spell as player manager at Thai side Muangthong United followed by the switch to Australia to become boss of Brisbane Roar in April 2019.

Having finished second bottom in the 2018-19 A-League campaign, Brisbane were then sat fourth when the A-League season became suspended in March due to the global battle against coronavirus with Fowler then returning home.

Brisbane then announced in June that Fowler would not be returning with the striker wishing to be near his family in the globe's ongoing battle against COVID-19 but the former striker has now taken his next step back into management in India with East Bengal.

The 45-year-old admits he is taking an unconventional route but the former striker is backing himself to prove a success.

"I want to challenge myself and I want to better myself," said Fowler, speaking on Sky Sports.

"Okay, it's maybe not a traditional route that everyone sees people going down but with myself I am backing myself again.

"I went to Australia last year, I could have gone the opposite way and really struggled and I'd have never got a job again.

"But I went over there, I was reasonably successful and took a team who massively struggled the year before and made them successful.

"We qualified for the Asian Champions League.

"Obviously with the situation currently it was a case of some things happening in Australia where you couldn't go back.

"But this is a new challenge and I'm backing myself again into a new league, a new culture and new challenge.

"I'm willing to take it and I'm willing to show people that I have got something about me."

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Thank you Laura Collins