The New Indian Express ·
From Kannur to Spain, Jithin scripts new chapter as assistant coach for Rayo Vallecano's reserve side
KASARGOD: After Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid with Kannur roots made it to Qatar’s World Cup squad, another footballer with links to the district is making waves, this time in Spain — Jithin Janardhanan.
The 27-year-old is turning heads, not as a player but on the touchlines: training players at popular Spanish club Rayo Vallecano. He was appointed the assistant coach of Rayo Vallecano B -- the La Liga club’s reserve side playing in Tercera Federacion, the fifth tier of the Spanish league system -- last month.
Jithin was born in Kannur to Janaradhanan and Deepa, who migrated to the UAE with their three children while he was a child. After moving to the UAE, Jithin enrolled with the Sharjah Indian School. Attracted to football from childhood, he played for his school team as well as local clubs as a right back. But his dream of becoming a professional footballer like Tahsin Mohammed was shattered by repetitive injuries.
