Greg Stewart: “Kolkata Fans Touched My Heart, But Jamshedpur News Was Shocking”

Having won silverware with every Indian Super League club he represented – Jamshedpur FC, Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant – Greg Stewart remains one of the most celebrated foreign imports in Indian football.

Following a severe ACL injury in January 2026 that put his playing career on hold, the Scottish forward has taken a step into the coaching realm, recently appointed as the assistant manager of Scottish outfit Cove Rangers. In an exclusive conversation, Stewart opens up about his new coaching role, his fondness for Indian football, playing through pain during Mohun Bagan’s double-winning campaign and his reaction to Jamshedpur FC suspending senior team operations.

What is the story behind your decision to become the assistant manager at Cove Rangers?

Greg Stewart: I had a bad injury in January and underwent a major operation on my left ACL. It was a tough start to the year, but knowing I couldn’t play, I focused on getting my coaching qualifications done. A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to join Cove Rangers as assistant manager. Since I am still doing my rehab, it felt like the right moment to step into the coaching world. I just love football, and this allows me to stay involved, help young players and pass on advice from my playing career.

Does this mean you are completely hanging up your boots, or could we see you return to the pitch?

Stewart: I still have a huge appetite to play. I love everything about the game. Whether I end up becoming a manager full-time later on or not, I want to be involved in football. It is completely different from playing, but working on the training ground and helping younger players improve has been a great experience over the last few weeks.

Having played for Jamshedpur FC, Mumbai City FC and Mohun Bagan, winning titles with all three, which stint holds a special place for you?

Stewart: That is a hard question because the passion from the fans at all three clubs was incredible. I think they appreciated that I emptied the tank every single time I stepped on the pitch. Jamshedpur was special because nobody expected us to lift the League Winners Shield under Owen Coyle. Being the underdog and winning it made it an unforgettable season.

At Mumbai and Mohun Bagan, the expectation is always to win trophies. Playing under Des Buckingham at Mumbai was brilliant; we played exciting attacking football, and playing in the AFC Champions League was a great experience.

My final season with Mohun Bagan was equally special. The atmosphere and the love for football in Kolkata are amazing. The fans treated me like one of their own, and that season touched my heart.

Jamshedpur FC recently decided to pull out of the senior men’s tier, focusing instead on youth development and women’s football due to financial sustainability issues in the roadmap. What was your reaction to that news?

Stewart: I was deeply shocked when I heard that. During my time there, Jamshedpur was easily one of the best-run clubs in India in terms of off-the-pitch operations and management. It is very sad to hear that they won’t be competing in the top senior competition anymore, because the foundation they built was solid.

You mentioned that your final season with Mohun Bagan was special, but wasn’t it also physically demanding?

Stewart: Yes, a lot of people don’t know this, but I actually played through a left knee injury from November right until the end of the season in April. I missed a few games because of it, but I didn’t want to give up because we all wanted that trophy. We ended up winning the double: both the Shield and the ISL Cup. It was my first time winning the play-off trophy, so pushing through the pain was completely worth it.

Mohun Bagan’s Kolkata Derby matches are famous worldwide. How did it feel playing in those games?

Stewart: The atmosphere in the Kolkata Derby is fantastic. It is a match I will talk about no matter where I go in my career. The passion between the two sets of fans in one city makes it incredibly competitive. Those are the fixtures you look for as soon as the schedule comes out. I was fortunate enough to win all the derbies I played in for Mohun Bagan.

What worked so well for Mohun Bagan during that double-winning season under Jose Molina?

Stewart: Coach Molina kept us very structured defensively, which made us extremely difficult to beat. Offensively, we knew we had goals in us because of the quality across the squad. The Indian core – players like Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, Manvir Singh, Apuia, Anirudh Thapa, Subhasish Bose and Vishal Kaith – was exceptional. When your domestic players perform at that standard, you always have a chance. Combined with foreign players like Jason Cummings, Dimitri Petratos, Jamie Maclaren, Tom Aldred and Alberto Rodriguez, we formed a tight unit. We became like a family off the pitch, which pushed us every day.

Having played alongside top Indian talent, who do you think has the capability to play in foreign leagues?

Stewart: Sahal Abdul Samad has incredible technical ability combined with the power to drive past defenders. I rate him very highly and think he has the all-round game to play abroad. Apuia in midfield is another top player. Liston Colaco has immense raw ability and can change a game in a second with a moment of magic, even if his final decision-making can be unpredictable at times. A lot of Indian players have the quality, but it also comes down to whether they want to leave home comforts and family, which is never easy.

Mohun Bagan recently signed Scottish forward Lee Irwin. What can the fans expect from him?

Stewart: I played against Lee back in Scotland when he was at Kilmarnock or Motherwell before he moved abroad. Having played in different countries over the years, he will adapt quickly to playing outside Scotland. He is a quality player who will add real value to the squad and help them compete for trophies this season. It will be interesting to see how the manager structures the attack with both Lee and Jason Cummings available.

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