FC Goa captain Odei Onaindia bids farewell

New Delhi

FC Goa have confirmed the departure of Spanish centre-back and team captain Odei Onaindia. The 34-year-old joined the club in 2023, following coach Manolo Marquez from Hyderabad FC. Known for his calmness, strong aerial game, and ability to read play, Onaindia quickly became a key part of Goa's defence.

He formed a solid partnership with Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan. Even when Jhingan got injured, Onaindia stayed strong at the back, linking well with Nim Dorjee. In the 2023–24 season, he helped FC Goa keep eight clean sheets and finish third in the regular season. They lost to Mumbai City FC in the semi-finals.

In the next season, Goa finished second but fell short again, this time to Bengaluru FC in the semis. Their big moment came in the 2025 Kalinga Super Cup, where they beat Jamshedpur FC and conceded just two goals in the tournament.

FC Goa thanked Odei, saying, “Once a Gaur, always a Gaur.” The club wished him well for the future.