The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will name the new head coach of the Indian men’s football team on August 1. This will be the end of a long selection process.
Three coaches in the race
The AIFF’s technical committee has shortlisted three final candidates from 170 applications. Former India coach Stephen Constantine, current Jamshedpur FC manager Khalid Jamil, and Slovakia’s Stefan Tarkovic are competing for the coveted position.
Constantine has extensive experience with the Indian team. He has coached India twice (2002-2005 and 2015-2019). In his second stint, India won the SAFF Championship in 2016 and the Intercontinental Cup in 2018.
Jamil will be the first Indian to take charge of the Indian team permanently in recent years. He led Aizawl FC to a historic 2016-17 I-League title.
Tarakovic is currently the coach of Kyrgyzstan and has previously coached Slovakia’s youth and senior teams.
Khalid Jamil is the frontrunner
According to reports, Khalid Jamil is the frontrunner among the three shortlisted coaches. The Jamshedpur FC manager’s deep understanding of Indian football makes him a good choice.
Xavi’s application creates a stir.
In a surprise turn, Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez had applied for the India coach’s position. The AIFF confirmed receiving an email from Xavi but later clarified that the applications from both Xavi and Pep Guardiola were not genuine.
AIFF technical committee chairman I.M. Vijayan had earlier said that Xavi could coach India if he agrees to the terms.
Challenges ahead
India’s new coach faces big challenges. The team has slipped to 133rd in the FIFA rankings, its worst performance in nine years. Only one point has been obtained from two matches in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
The new coach will likely start with the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, which will take place in late August. India will face Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan in it.
Key selection criteria
The AIFF has insisted on appointing a coach with a deep understanding of Asian and Indian football. Cultural sensitivity and the ability to connect with Indian players have been cited as essential.
The appointment will be finalized at the Executive Committee meeting on August 1. This will be the end of the search for a permanent coach that has been going on since the departure of Manolo Marquez in early July.