Going back to an old club is always special: Westwood Ashley Westwood doesn’t distinctly remember the last time he was in the dugout at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. “Would have been the final game of the season when we won,” he tells Sportstar.
The ‘we’ here is Bengaluru FC, a club he helmed with distinction for three campaigns from 2013 to 2016 – winning the erstwhile I-League twice and the Federation Cup once – and the same club that he will return to this Saturday, albeit as the coach of Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League.
Westwood’s final match in the Garden City came exactly a decade ago, in April 2016, during a 2-1 win over Lao Toyota to seal a AFC Cup round-of-16 berth. Funnily, Westwood was sent off in that match. Ten days earlier, in his final home fixture in the I-League, BFC had beaten Salgaocar FC 2-0 to clinch a second National crown in three seasons.
“Bangalore is full of fond memories,” Westwood says. “Winning the league is one and there was an open-top bus ride after that which remains fresh. Christmas with the players, fancy dress, and then winning the league again in the third season…
“But what I remember the most is the 1-1 draw against Mohun Bagan in the final match of the second season… and lose the title. We could have won three out of three. I remember the disappointments more than the achievements, but success is always a fond memory.”
When Westwood took over, BFC was brand new. It was also his first full-time managerial job. But in three seasons, the franchise had become a benchmark – for both professionalism and achievement.
ALSO READ: India exits AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 despite beating Chinese Taipei
In fact, the Englishman’s final game was the 3-2 away win over Hong Kong side Kitchee that helped earn a maiden AFC Cup quarterfinal slot. Five months later, under Spaniard Albert Roca, BFC reached the final, a first for an Indian club.
“When we started, we didn’t have much,” Westwood recalls. “We had a very small playing squad, and but for some signings like Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh, the rest were those who couldn’t get a club. Budget was also low. So growing a club from scratch is something that stands you in good stead.”
At Blasters too he has to start from scratch, but only results-wise. After seven contests, the outfit is 13th in a 14-team ISL (one point) compared to BFC’s joint-second position (14). Nonetheless, BFC-Blasters remains one of the fiercest rivalries, and Westwood will experience this first hand.
“I am well aware of the rivalry… between two of the biggest clubs in southern India. For me though, it is about getting our fans to enjoy some good football, regardless of who we play.
“But going back to an old club is always special. I did that many times as a player. Now I am going to do that as a coach.”
Published on Apr 08, 2026
#club #special #Westwood
Ashley Westwood doesn’t distinctly remember the last time he was in the dugout at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. “Would have been the final game of the season when we won,” he tells Sportstar.
The ‘we’ here is Bengaluru FC, a club he helmed with distinction for three campaigns from 2013 to 2016 – winning the erstwhile I-League twice and the Federation Cup once – and the same club that he will return to this Saturday, albeit as the coach of Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League.
Westwood’s final match in the Garden City came exactly a decade ago, in April 2016, during a 2-1 win over Lao Toyota to seal a AFC Cup round-of-16 berth. Funnily, Westwood was sent off in that match. Ten days earlier, in his final home fixture in the I-League, BFC had beaten Salgaocar FC 2-0 to clinch a second National crown in three seasons.
“Bangalore is full of fond memories,” Westwood says. “Winning the league is one and there was an open-top bus ride after that which remains fresh. Christmas with the players, fancy dress, and then winning the league again in the third season…
“But what I remember the most is the 1-1 draw against Mohun Bagan in the final match of the second season… and lose the title. We could have won three out of three. I remember the disappointments more than the achievements, but success is always a fond memory.”
When Westwood took over, BFC was brand new. It was also his first full-time managerial job. But in three seasons, the franchise had become a benchmark – for both professionalism and achievement.
ALSO READ: India exits AFC U-20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 despite beating Chinese Taipei
In fact, the Englishman’s final game was the 3-2 away win over Hong Kong side Kitchee that helped earn a maiden AFC Cup quarterfinal slot. Five months later, under Spaniard Albert Roca, BFC reached the final, a first for an Indian club.
“When we started, we didn’t have much,” Westwood recalls. “We had a very small playing squad, and but for some signings like Sunil Chhetri and Robin Singh, the rest were those who couldn’t get a club. Budget was also low. So growing a club from scratch is something that stands you in good stead.”
At Blasters too he has to start from scratch, but only results-wise. After seven contests, the outfit is 13th in a 14-team ISL (one point) compared to BFC’s joint-second position (14). Nonetheless, BFC-Blasters remains one of the fiercest rivalries, and Westwood will experience this first hand.
“I am well aware of the rivalry… between two of the biggest clubs in southern India. For me though, it is about getting our fans to enjoy some good football, regardless of who we play.
“But going back to an old club is always special. I did that many times as a player. Now I am going to do that as a coach.”
Published on Apr 08, 2026
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