Latest news with #Anglo-Cypriot
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
02-08-2025
- Business
- First Post
Khalid Jamil's appointment by AIFF reeks of helplessness, but history-making coach has proven to be anomaly
Khalid Jamil's appointment as head coach of the Indian football team by the AIFF reeks of desperation from a cash-strapped organisation that has previously failed with similar experiments. But Jamil's extraordinary capabilities could yet prove the AIFF right. read more Khalid Jamil becomes the first Indian head coach of the men's football team since 2012. Image: ISL The All India Football Federation (AIFF) news story announcing the return of an Indian as the runs six paragraphs, including the names of the president, vice-president, Executive Committee (EC) and Technical Committee (TC) members, but there's no information of the contract tenure offered to Khalid Jamil. Possibly, the terms are yet to be agreed upon. However, the AIFF clearly mentions that Jamil has been appointed by the TC, not just picked, which suggests that a basic agreement is already in place, and the Jamshedpur FC coach has given the green light to take up the challenging job. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, either the contract length has not been decided, or AIFF is probably looking to play a short-term game before offering a new deal to Jamil next year. How can we say that? More from Football The budget for the 2025-26 season was passed by the AIFF Executive Committee only until December 2025 on 2 July. There are limitations, and a long-term contract most likely cannot be offered right now. It makes sense now, right? Why was Khalid picked over Constantine? But what about his appointment in the first place? How did the 48-year-old AFC Pro Licensee beat former India coach , the Anglo-Cypriot, who took India to the 2019 Asian Cup and helped them beat Thailand in a group stage match – the Blue Tigers' first win at the continental tournament since 1964. Or, what about Stefan Tarkovic, the former Slovakian and Kyrgyzstan coach? Khalid, in comparison, is a pale shadow of the competitors he had. But here's where the story gets more interesting. The AIFF is not only struggling with the budget for the ongoing season but also has no agreement in place for Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) to run the Indian Super League (ISL); its annual revenue is on a rapid decline. It generated Rs 137 crore in income in 2022-23, followed by just Rs 110 crore in 2023-24, and was also required to pay approximately Rs 3.36 crore (around $400,000) to former India head coach Igor Stimac after terminating his contract two years before its scheduled end date. The AIFF Executive Committee, in the presence of the Technical Committee, has approved the appointment of Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the Senior India Men's National Team.#IndianFootball ⚽️ — Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) August 1, 2025 The financial crisis forced AIFF to make a compromise with Manolo as he came on a deal where he continued his job at FC Goa in ISL. And we know how his tenure ended. . Manolo, the manager who was said to know everything about Indian football, a fan favourite, arguably popular among players, and a tactician believed to have the ability to get the best out of Indian players, won just one friendly out of eight games in charge of the Indian football team. His only win came against a semi-professional-looking Maldivian side. Also Read | The football India played under him was abysmal – the players looked shaky, the squad selection was questionable, the team environment was unruly, and the atmosphere during India's matches was unprofessional. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Yet, the AIFF has once again opted for a manager who has no international experience, but one who comes with a lot of guts and gumption. Khalid, as a coach, has always been a fighter, punching above his weight . But didn't India need a proven face when they were on the brink of elimination from the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers? Wasn't Constantine, who already had two terms with India, a better option? Congratulations #KhalidJamil As expected Khalid Jamil is the new Head Coach Indian National Men's Team #BlueTigers A bold decision by AIFF and Khalid himself to join hands at a time when the challenge is of highest level. Khalid becomes the first Indian coach after Savio… — Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) August 1, 2025 After all, Jamil has zero international experience. But that's not the case with Constantine. And then there was Tarkovic, who also had extensive international experience. Don't forget, managing the dressing room is probably the biggest challenge in the Indian team. Players come into the Indian locker room with their bags full of financial security – there's no greed for money. The only thing you need to kindle in them is the passion to play for the blue jersey, but coaches have often found that tough. Stimac was undone by the same issue at the end of his tenure. Marquez never got hold of anything before he desperately sought a way out. Jamil is an anomaly and maybe that worked for him It's important to point out that the language used by the AIFF announcing Jamil's appointment tells a story in itself. 'Mr. Colaco and Mr. Ali expressed their views that the AIFF should prioritise selecting an Indian coach for the senior men's national team,' the AIFF said. 'The AIFF Vice President Shri Haris, along with members such…opined that for the betterment of Indian football, the federation must give an opportunity to an Indian coach.' So, Jamil wasn't picked just because he was the most capable, but also because he is an Indian coach. Interesting! STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Just for your information, India's last three Asian Cup qualifications, dating to 2011, have come under foreign coaches. No Indian has coached India since 2012. Only four Indians have coached the Blue Tigers since the turn of the 21st century, and none of them have lasted for more than a year. So, why this lust for an Indian coach? Possibly because we are tired of all that has happened. Even though Marquez proved beyond doubt that just some good knowledge of the ISL or Indian players is not enough to match the standards of international football, the AIFF has once again taken a punt with a similar coach. 1 - Khalid Jamil is the only Indian manager to have managed 50+ games in the #ISL (72); he is also the only Indian manager to have registered multiple playoff wins in the competition (2). Choice. 📸: @IndSuperLeague#IndianFootball — OptaJeev (@OptaJeev) August 1, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The only difference is that Jamil is not Marquez. He is no washed-up Spaniard coach; Jamil is a trailblazer in his own right. The messiah of Mumbai FC, the history-maker at Aizawl FC, and the trend-setter in the ISL with NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur. From being the first Indian coach to take an ISL side to the playoffs to being the first home manager to acquire a full-time job in the top division, Jamil has always been an anomaly. Disciplined team, non-nonsense defending, and well-drilled tactics have been Jamil's strengths across all teams, allowing him to extract the best from limited resources everywhere he has been. Possibly, that's why AIFF picked him, but that is not clear from their news story, nor has that ever been enough to coach India. But as I said, Jamil is an anomaly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Football: On Jamil rests India's Asian Cup hopes
Kolkata: Hours after being named India coach, Khalid Jamil took a training session with Jamshedpur FC. It could be the last one Jamil takes at the Indian Super League (ISL) club he joined on December 31, 2023. Between then and Friday, Jamil had overseen Jamshedpur FC being docked three points for fielding an extra foreigner and making the ISL semi-final and the Super Cup final. File image of Khalid Ahmed Jamil who has been named India's men's team national coach. (Sportzpics for ISL) It was the last two in 2024-25 that got Jamil's former coach and teammates to support him as the first Indian in charge of the national team since Savio Medeira in 2012. The post opened when Spaniard Manolo Marquez stepped down as head coach after 11 months. IM Vijayan, who chairs the technical committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), backed his former India teammate, who was voted AIFF coach of the year twice in succession, as did Bimal Ghosh under whom Jamil had blossomed into a versatile midfielder. At the virtual AIFF executive committee meeting on Friday, they also got support from Armando Colaco and Shabbir Ali, the former India captain who is also a technical committee and executive committee member. According to those who attended the meeting, Ghosh proposed only Jamil's name and Colaco said he would be the first choice followed by Stephen Constantine. Decorated former coaches both, Colaco and Ghosh are advisors to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey. Members also spoke of Jamil's lack of international experience and in managing a squad that has the best Indian players but Colaco and Ali, as per the AIFF media release, said he needed to be given a chance. There was support for Constantine as well with one member pointing out how he had ensured a smooth transition from Sukhwinder Singh in 2002 and another AIFF official saying since the new coach will not have time to settle down, the Anglo-Cypriot was his choice. Stefan Tarkovic, the other coach in the three-man shortlist, was barely discussed. Chaubey told PTI that Jamil has asked for a three-year term. An executive committee member suggested that the new coach be given a one-year contract, in line with the term remaining for the members, with a scope for extension, according to an official in the meeting. 'It will be a long-term tenure, may be two or three years, and performance-based,' Chaubey has said. 'The details will be firmed up by AIFF in consultation with Jamil,' said a federation official. Also awaiting details are Jamil's current employers. Jamshedpur FC play 1 Ladakh in Durand Cup on August 8 and the quarter-final on August 16 or 17. But should Jamil want to start preparation for the CAFA Nations Cup, where India start on August 29 against Tajikistan, he may have to be released earlier, or Jamshedpur may request AIFF to let him manage club and country in the short term. As per AIFF officials in the meeting, Jamil has asked for a support staff of six most of whom could be from Jamshedpur FC. Jamil's salary will be around ₹1.2 crore annually, according to an official who was in the meeting. Constantine and Tarkovic had sought $240,000 ( ₹20.9 crore approximately) after tax annually, the official said. Since they are not allowed to speak to the media on this, the officials mentioned in this report have requested anonymity. A football obsessive known for his ability to revive players' careers and get clubs to punch above their weight, Jamil's biggest challenge will be to ensure that India, who have slipped to 133 in the FIFA rankings, qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. A first-ever hattrick of successful qualifying campaigns is, in the words of India's talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri, the bare minimum. At the bottom of the four-team group after a draw and a defeat, India will play Singapore next home and away in October. Jamil's teams are known for defensive solidity but have sometimes cracked in trying to take the game to the opponents. Six of Jamshedpur's 10 defeats in 2024-25 ISL came against teams that finished below them. India are the highest-ranked team in group C of the Asian Cup qualifiers and that could mean Jamil having to work out a way against tactics he is famous for deploying.
Mint
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Mint
India men's football head coach: What makes Khalid Jamil frontrunner ahead of Stephen Constantine & Stefan Tarkovic?
The Indian men's football team will have a new head coach when the All India Football Federation (AIFF) executive committee meets virtually on Friday. Following the departure of Manolo Marquez, the AIFF had invited applications for the position. The governing body of Indian football in the country shortlisted Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine and Stefan Tarkovic among the 170 names submitted. Jamil is currently coaching Jamshedpur FC in the ongoing Durand Cup while Constantine is a former India head coach. Tarkovic, who had been a national team coach, has no links with Indian football. However, among the three, Jamil looks to be the frontrunner for the top job. A former player, Tarkovic has been at helm for his native Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan - a criteria that will be given preference according to the AIFF advertisement. However, Tarkovic lack of knowledge about Indian football puts him out of contention for the job. Tarkovic's last assignment was with Kyrgyzstan that ended in June 2024. Why Stephen Constantine is unlikely to get third term? Constantine, 62, has been India head coach twice, from 2002-05 and 2015-19. The Anglo-Cypriot was also in charge of East Bengal in the Indian Super League in 2022-23 but the club's ninth-place finish could put him at a disadvantage. Constantine took charge of Pakistan in 2023 and though they won a first World Cup qualifier (against Cambodia) under him, it turned out to be his only win in 10 matches in charge.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
26-07-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
Did AIFF use Xavi's name to lure top applicants for India coach role?
World-renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano denied the reports being circulated in India, "Despite recent reports, zero talks took place between Xavi Hernandez and Indian Federation." New Delhi When news broke about Xavi Hernandez applying for the India football head coach's job, fans expressed their disappointment that his application would not be considered, as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) could not afford him. The incident echoed a similar sentiments from two years ago, when Argentina's football governing body approached the AIFF for a friendly match featuring superstar Lionel Messi. India had turned down the proposal, citing financial constraints. At the time, Messi fans called for a crowdfunding campaign to bring him to India. A similar sentiment resurfaced when Xavi's name emerged in connection with the national coaching role. However, Spanish media reports have claimed that Xavi never expressed interest in coaching India. 'Sources close to Xavi completely deny that he offered himself to manage the Indian national team. They claim the Indian federation used his name to try and appeal to better candidates,' Barça Universal posted on social media platform X. ‼️Sources close to Xavi completely deny that he offered himself to manage the Indian national team. ❌ They claim the Indian federation used his name to try and appeal to better candidates. — @sport — Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) July 25, 2025 Meanwhile, world-renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano also denied the reports being circulated in India. He wrote on X, 'Despite recent reports, zero talks took place between Xavi Hernandez and Indian Federation.' ????❌ Despite recent reports, zero talks took place between Xavi Hernández and Indian Federation. ???????? — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 26, 2025 News agency PTI quoted an AIFF official as saying, 'He (Xavi) applied for the job of the Indian senior men's team football head coach. He has himself mailed his application to the people in the technical committee, and it looks like he was very much interested in the job. However, those tasked with the responsibility of recommending the shortlist of coaches to the executive committee for final approval know that it's difficult.' Who has applied for the India football coach job? Three shortlisted by AIFF panel The experienced Anglo-Cypriot Stephen Constantine, Slovakia's Stefan Tarkovic, and Indian coach Khalid Jamil were the three candidates shortlisted on Wednesday by the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) technical committee. Jamil emerges as frontrunner Among the shortlisted names, Khalid Jamil appears to be the frontrunner to succeed Manolo Marquez, who stepped down earlier this month following a string of disappointing results. India's FIFA ranking has since dropped to 133—its lowest in nine years. AIFF received 170 applications The AIFF had invited applications for the top job on July 4, with a deadline of July 13. A total of 170 candidates applied, including several high-profile names such as former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell. Big names expressed interest before Xavi Before news surfaced about Xavi Hernandez's application, Fowler and Kewell had already thrown their hats into the ring for the India coaching position. Xavi's achievements as player and coach World Cup and Euro champion with Spain Xavi Hernandez was a central figure in Spain's golden era, winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup and back-to-back UEFA Euro titles in 2008 and 2012. Club legend with Barcelona The 45-year-old midfield maestro enjoyed tremendous success at FC Barcelona, where he won: Five La Liga titles Three Copa del Rey trophies Three UEFA Champions League titles He was instrumental in Barcelona's historic continental trebles in 2008–09 and 2014–15. From La Masia to global stardom A product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy—like his legendary teammate Lionel Messi—Xavi made over 750 appearances for the club during a 24-year playing career. He left Barcelona as a player in 2015 to join Qatar's Al Sadd, where he won four trophies before retiring in 2019. Coaching career: From Qatar to Catalonia After hanging up his boots, Xavi began his managerial journey with Al Sadd from 2019 to 2021. He then returned to FC Barcelona as head coach, serving from 2021 to 2024. During his time in charge, Barcelona won: The 2022–23 La Liga title The 2023 Supercopa de Espana
News18
25-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
AIFF To Reveal New Head Coach For Indian Men's Football Team On August 1: Report
Last Updated: The AIFF is set to announce the new head coach for the Indian men's national football team on August 1. The shortlisted candidates are Constantine, Tarkovic, and Jamil. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is expected to announce the next head coach of the Indian men's national football team on August 1, as per reports. According to Sportstar, the resumes of the three shortlisted candidates have been forwarded to the AIFF Executive Committee, which has scheduled an emergency meeting for next Friday. The sole agenda of the meeting will be to finalize and confirm the new head coach. The Indian men's team has been without a head coach since July 2, following the mutual departure of Manolo Márquez after a one-year tenure, during which the team failed to win a competitive match. Selection Process Underway After the coaching position became vacant, the AIFF opened applications with a submission deadline of July 13. The response was overwhelming, drawing 170 applications from across the globe. With the FIFA international window approaching in September, and crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore scheduled for October 9 and 14, the AIFF is facing pressure to expedite the appointment process. The Executive Committee retains the authority to request additional candidates or seek further clarification before making a final decision. The AIFF's technical committee then shortlisted three candidates: experienced Anglo-Cypriot Stephen Constantine, Slovakian coach Stefan Tarkovic, and Indian tactician Khalid Jamil. All three are now being considered for the head coach position. Former India international Renedy Singh was also under initial consideration, but according to sources within the AIFF, the current assistant coach of Bengaluru FC was not included in the final shortlist. His name was instead discussed for the assistant coach role, a decision the committee decided should be made in consultation with the incoming head coach. Among the three finalists, Khalid Jamil is reportedly emerging as the leading contender. Crucial Fixtures Ahead India currently sits at the bottom of Group C in the third round of AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, following a draw against Bangladesh and a defeat to Hong Kong. Their next fixture is a home match against group leaders Singapore on October 9. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 18:07 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
