Robert Allison Bootland (died 13 June 2007) was an English professional football coach active primarily in India. He was the first foreign club coach in India.[1][2] Bootland was described as "a taskmaster with a no-nonsense attitude."[1]
Robert Allison Bootland was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He first arrived in India in 1977 as a tourist,[1][3] and after being invited to watch a senior league game involving Dempo SC, Bootland decided to stay in India and become a full-time professional football coach.[1][4]
Bootland began his football coaching career with Dempo SC, the same club which had inspired his new-found career. Bootland said, " had been to this wonderful land to meet my friend's parents. Dempo management invited to me to watch the game. I found the Goans good footballers. Soon the coaching offer came and I accepted it."[5] Bootland won the Rovers Cup with Dempo in only his second year in charge, 1978,[2] after introducing a 4–3–3 formation; the side was described as "[a] well balanced side" who were "in peak physical condition."[6] After a brief spell as manager of the Indian national side in 1982,[1][2] Bootland then became coach of JCT Mills winning the Durand Cup in 1983.[2] Bootland later returned to Dempo SC, where he won the Rovers Cup for a second time in 1986.[2] Bootland returned to the Indian national side – this time as an assistant coach – in 1987 for that year's edition of the Nehru Cup.[7] Bootland then coached club sides Sesa Goa FC and MRF FC,[8] before becoming coach of Vasco SC. He was sacked as Vasco manager in October 1998.[8] Bootland ended his coaching career with Tatas FC.[1][2]
In his later career, Bootland became an outspoken critic of Indian football, claiming that, "politics in Indian football is killing the players."[5]
Bootland was married to an Indian woman named Fatima who was a schoolteacher and amateur athlete.[1] The couple had two sons named Allison and Ronald.[1]
Bootland died on 13 June 2007 in a hospital in Bambolim after complaining of chest pains. He was aged either 72,[1] or 73.[2] The cause of death was later determined to be a heart attack.[2]
