Bengal retain Shabbir Ali as Santosh Trophy coach

Twice defending champions Bengal will go into the 66th edition of the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy with Shabbir Ali once more as their coach. The 66th Santosh Trophy will be played from May 11 to 27 across Orissa in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Baragarh with Bengal getting a bye into the Quarterfinal League.

"It is really a proud moment for me. I'm excited to coach Bengal for the third season," Shabbir Ali, who had coached Bengal to triumphs in 2010 and 2011, told agency PTI.

Bengal are record champions with 31 titles to their name and the Santosh Trophy has a special place in Bengal football. In 2010 Shabbir Ali and his boys had regained the trophy after 11 long years and now Shabbir Ali and his new team will work to achieve the title hattrick.

Here link for the 66th Santosh Trophy: The Complete Fixtures .