The Indian football team is currently going through a period of change. After a poor run of form, especially in the recent FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) decided to part ways with former coach Igor Stimac. The team could not qualify for the third round, which was a major disappointment for Indian Football fans. Now with the departure of the former coach, all fans have only one question in mind that who will be the next coach of the Indian Football team? The AIFF has confirmed that the new head coach will be announced by the end of July, as India prepares for a packed International calendar, including the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier.
AIFF receives over 170 Applications for the coach position
The AIFF began the search for the next coach soon after the former coach was sacked. According to the AIFF president, Kalyan Chaubey, more than 170 applications were received from coaches across the world. Some of the names were quite popular in the world of football. Out of those big names, one name was of Xavi Hernandez, a former Spanish International and FC Barcelona legend. The news of Xavi Hernández applying for the Indian Football team coach created a lot of buzz. However, it appears that the application was turned down by the AIFF due to financial demands, which turned out to be beyond federation limits. So as of now, Xavi is out of the race for the Indian Football team coach.
Three finalists who could be the next coach of the Indian Football team:
The AIFF has now shortlisted three names for the role of the next Indian football coach. These include:
- Khalid Jamil: He is one of the top Indian coaches and is known for his time with clubs like NorthEast United and Aizawl FC. He is currently seen as the front-runner to be the next Indian football team coach.
- Stephen Constantine: A former head coach of India, Constantine helped the team improve during his last time and took them to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
- Stefan Tarkvoic: A Slovakian coach who has international experience, including managing Slovakia at UEFA Euro 2020.
The final decision on the next coach of the Indian Football team will be taken by the AIFF Executive Committee, led by Kalyan Chaubey and Technical Committee Chairman I.M. Vijayan. The announcement is expected to be made by the end of July or early August 1, after the committee reviews the shortlisted names.
The next Indian Football team coach Challenge:
The new coach will have a tough job ahead; the team needs to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier and upcoming FIFA international tours. Many fans still ask, “Does India have a football team?” and “Why is the Indian Football team not in the FIFA ranking?” These questions show how far the sport still needs to grow in the country of cricket. The new coach will need to focus on long-term development and improve the performance of the team in international tournaments. This also includes working with the players in the Indian Super League(ISL) and helping young talent rise.
FAQ
Who will be the next head coach of the Indian Football team?
The AIFF has shortlisted Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic. One of them will be appointed as the next coach of the Indian Football team.
Did Xavi Hernández apply for the Indian football coach job?
Yes, Xavi applied, but the AIFF has rejected his application because of his high salary demand.
Why is the Indian Football team not in FIFA?
India has a national team and is part of FIFA. However, they have struggled to qualify for major FIFA tournaments like the World Cup.
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