Latest news with #BlueTigers'
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Football: Indian head coaches who brought home honours
New Delhi [India], August 7 (ANI): As Indian football has evolved over time, there's a growing call for developing a strong coaching ecosystem rooted in the country's football culture, and Khalid Jamil's appointment as India's head coach is a significant and inspiring not only became the first Indian to hold the post since 2012 but also the first Indian head coach in over a decade. With Jamil set to embark on his journey as the Blue Tigers' head coach, ISL reflect on the Indian head coaches who spent time in the national team's hot the country is a matter of immense pride, and taking on a leadership role only deepens that honour, along with the responsibility it carries, as per the official website of the Indian Super League (ISL).The allure of foreign experience, with its promise of international exposure and modern tactical trends, often overshadows the expertise of homegrown Abdul Rahim is still regarded as the greatest Indian football coach ever, and it is largely down to his achievements with the Indian football coached the Indian football team in various stints between 1951 and 1962 and took India to heights the country has never managed to reach on a football field. His biggest feats include two gold medals at the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games. He also guided India to a fourth-place finish at the 1956 introduced a unique playing system and bamboozled opponents with his smart tweaks, which also included playing defender Jarnail Singh as a striker in the semi-final of the 1962 Asian Games against South Vietnam, which led to India reaching the also had a keen eye for talent and nurtured several future stars of the Indian football team. He employed innovative coaching methods, such as staging tournaments that only allowed players to use their weaker foot, to improve players during his made India one of the best teams in Asia and earned them the title of 'Brazil of Asia'. Rahim died of lung cancer in 1963, and Indian football is yet to reach those heights Singh managed the Indian football team in two spells and played a key part in moulding the careers of some of India's best-ever players. Bhaichung Bhutia played some of his best football under Singh for both club and country. Later in 2005, it was Singh who identified the talent of Sunil Chhetri and handed him his national team debut when not many saw him as the obvious candidate to play for the national team. The rest, as they say, is his first stint, Singh guided India to SAFF Championship glory in 1999, but his greatest achievement was India's performance in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, which remains the best till date. The Blue Tigers defeated UAE at home during the qualifiers and lost just one match in the entire campaign to finish on 11 points, just two shy of leaders UAE. The two draws against Yemen proved costly for Singh's side as they missed out on reaching the second round of the World Cup qualifiers by a whisker. A win in either of the two games against Yemen would have sent India through to the second round of the World Cup qualifiers, a feat which India is yet to former JCT coach may not have won as many accolades as some of the other coaches on the list, but he remains one of the best Indian coaches of the national team thanks to his maintaining a strong win percentage during his tenure despite facing some really tough opponents during his managed India in three different stints in three different decades and always brought silverware to the table. He first worked as an assistant coach to Amal Dutta when India won the gold medal at the 1987 South Asian Games. Nayeem then took over the charge of the national team for two years and straight away put emphasis on physical fitness, advocating the importance of proper diet and discipline. His strict approach to coaching attracted mixed reactions from the players, but his insistence on fitness improved India's performances on the returned as national coach in 1997, helping India win the SAFF Championship, a feat he repeated in 2005 when he was brought back to the helm for a third who is the only footballer to win both the Arjuna and Dronacharya awards, deserves a lot of Medeira, a former midfielder and assistant coach under Bob Houghton, was promoted to head coach in 2011. He took over after Houghton's departure in a transition phase and showcased that assistant coaches could successfully step up and deliver brief tenure saw India win the SAFF Championship in 2011. However, the Blue Tigers couldn't cross the group stage hurdle in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup under his guidance. (ANI)
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
13-06-2025
- Sport
- First Post
AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey responds to Baichung Bhutia's criticism on Indian football's decline: ‘I've had enough…'
After Bhaichung Bhutia accused AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey of 'destroying Indian football' following the Blue Tigers' 0-1 loss at the hands of Hong Kong, the latter responded by targeting the legendary striker's football academies at a press conference in New Delhi on Friday. read more Indian football fans might struggle to recall a time when their senior national teams, men or women, looked more soulless on the field than they do now. The women's team currently finds itself ranked 70th – their lowest ever – while the men's team currently is ranked 127th. There was a time – and this was just seven years ago – when Uzbekistan and India were neighbours on FIFA rankings, ranked 96th and 97th respectively. However, while one nation has fulfilled its dream of playing in the World Cup, the other is struggling to qualify for a continental event. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The scrutiny of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and particularly president Kalyan Chaubey, has only intensified after the , a team ranked 26 places below it on the FIFA rankings. More from Football Chaubey hits back at Bhutia, targets his academies And legendary striker , accusing them of 'destroying Indian football', and calling for the former India goalkeeper to resign from his post. Chaubey did not hold back either. In a press conference in New Delhi on Friday where he was supposed to discuss concrete solutions to the problems that currently plague Indian football as well as coach Manolo Marquez' future with the Blue Tigers, the former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal keeper targeted the legendary striker for his inability to produce any notable results through his football academies. 'In the past 13 months, we have had 11 EC meetings. He (Bhutia) has been present at all of them. If there was corruption, he had ample opportunity to challenge them in the meetings, all of which are recorded and accessible to the masses,' Chaubey told reporters when quizzed on former teammate Bhutia's comments. Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia established a network of academies across the country after bringing the curtains down on his playing career in 2015. PTI Chaubey went on to target Bhutia's football schools, which are located across the country and has been losing by margins of up to 31-0 against academy recruits of other clubs. The AIFF president accused Bhutia of playing with the 'the emotions of players and families' by charging hefty fees at his academies without producing any tangible results. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'He has commercial schools where the fees are from 1000s to 2 lakhs… He has a completely vested and commercial interest. They are taking undue advantage while playing with the emotions of players and people who believe that he has achieved the peak of Indian football. 'I've had enough over the past one and a half years. And I am here to tell that if he still wishes to swim against the tide, he will face obstacles. 'Being a respected figure comes with a lot of responsibility. It isn't merely about personalities, but it's about progress,' Chaubey added. It's worth noting that Bhutia and Chaubey, who had shared the East Bengal dressing room from 1997 to 1999 besides representing the country together, were rivals during the 2022 AIFF presidential election – in which Chaubey trounced Bhutia by 33 votes to one. Chaubey's press conference three days after India's away defeat at the hands of Hong Kong was widely expected to be one where he would make a concrete announcement on Marquez, who was entrusted with coaching the Indian team in addition to FC Goa in the Indian Super League after the board sacked Igor Stimac last year. Instead, it was his comments on Bhutia in response to a question from one reporter than ended up making headlines, and is sure to elicit a response from the 'Sikkimese Sniper'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chaubey, however, did make mention of Marquez's future with the Indian team – that a final decision on the matter would be made on 29 June in an Executive Committee meeting. Another popular talking point, especially on social media, has been that of allowing Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) or Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) to represent India in football, especially due to the lack of quality talent among the younger crop of players that forced iconic forward Sunil Chhetri to come out of retirement recently. Midfielder Hamza Choudhury, who currently plays for Championship club Sheffield United and had previously represented Leicester City, had made headlines for representing Bangladesh against India in an Asian Cup qualifying game in Shillong, where the 'Bengal Tigers' held the hosts to a goalless draw but were ultimately the better team on the field. Neighbours Pakistan and Afghanistan too have allowed overseas players to represent them in football. However, the fact that all three nations are a long way off from India when it comes to their position on the FIFA ladder suggests it hardly is a solution to AIFF's problems. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chaubey, however, might be seeing the OCI move as something of a quick fix to the mounting problems that has put his ability as an administrator under the spotlight. After all, he claimed he was in touch with up to 33 such players from around the world, indicating that the idea was being pursued by the federation with full seriousness. 'The AIFF is in communication with 33 players who fall into the category of OCI. Some of them have received their OCI cards, and others are in the process of attaining the same, with the assistance of the AIFF,' he said. 'We are committed to aligning with the laws of the land and the framework of the FIFA statutes for the inclusion of OCI players in India,' Chaubey added in the presser. All eyes will be on Chaubey and the AIFF when they face the press a little over two weeks from now to take a call on Marquez's future. Whatever decision they make, one can only hope it's the first step towards fixing the mess that Indian football finds itself in. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
News18
10-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
India Go Down 0-1 To Hong Kong In Crucial AFC Asian Cup Qualifier
Last Updated: India lost 1-0 to Hong Kong in a 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier as Stefan Pereira scored a late penalty after a Vishal Kaith mistake. The Indian football team suffered a disappointing 1-0 defeat against hosts Hong Kong in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match on Tuesday, conceding a late goal from Stefan Pereira in injury time. Hong Kong were awarded a penalty after Indian goalkeeper Vishal Kaith came off his line and collided with Michael Udebuluzor while attempting to clear the ball. Pereira (90+4) converted the spot-kick, placing the ball to the right of Kaith, who received a yellow card for the foul. Earlier, India's coach Manolo Marquez had opted to leave veteran striker Sunil Chhetri out of the starting line-up. Despite strong home support at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium, India created several chances in the first half, even though Hong Kong enjoyed more possession. However, the Blue Tigers' persistent struggles with finishing continued to plague them throughout the opening 45 minutes. The closest India came to scoring before half-time was in the 35th minute when Ashique Kuruniyan missed from close range following a well-delivered cross from Liston Colaco on the left. After receiving treatment for an injury, Colaco unleashed a powerful long-range shot that was comfortably saved by the goalkeeper. As the half progressed, Hong Kong gained confidence. The home side nearly took the lead from a free-kick, but Asish Rai made a crucial clearance after goalkeeper Kaith was beaten. Both teams had opportunities, but neither could break the deadlock in a tightly contested first half of this vital 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier. Kuruniyan, who otherwise delivered an impressive performance on the flanks, had another chance to open the scoring early in the second half but was unable to convert. Shortly thereafter, coach Manolo Marquez introduced India's all-time leading goal-scorer, Sunil Chhetri, alongside Naorem Singh, replacing Kuruniyan and Brandon Fernandes. India continued to create chances in the second half, notably in the 81st minute when Lallianzuala Chhangte provided a superb cutback to Chhetri inside the Hong Kong box, but the veteran striker failed to connect cleanly. The result represents a setback for India, who entered the match following a goalless draw against Bangladesh in their opening Asian Cup qualifying match at home in March.
United News of India
10-06-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
India set to take on Hong Kong in AFC Asian Cup qualifier clash
Kowloon (Hong Kong), June 9 (UNI) India will take on Hong Kong, China on Matchday 2 in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round on Tuesday, at the Kai Tak Stadium here at 17:30 IST. The Group C table is still a clean slate with all four teams level on a point apiece after both games on Matchday 1 on March 25 ended goalless. India and Bangladesh drew in Shillong, while Hong Kong also got a point away to Singapore. Only the group winners will qualify for the Asian Cup in 2027. India, who made it to two successive Asian Cups for the first time in 2023, are aiming to extend the historic streak. Hong Kong also qualified for the previous tournament, but with only one available berth, either side is bound to miss out. India head coach Manolo Marquez exuded confidence on the eve of the Blue Tigers' clash against Hong Kong. 'Our preparations have been much better this time, if we compare with the previous FIFA windows, where you practically don't have too much time. We had about three weeks to prepare, between Kolkata, Bangkok, and here in Hong Kong. And we are ready to perform. Nothing special,' said Marquez. 'The environment in the team is quite good as well. Obviously, in all teams across the world, the environment is better when you are winning games constantly. But the environment, the relationship between the players, regardless of the results, is very good,' he said. India centre-back Konsham Chinglensana Singh echoed the coach's words. 'We are well prepared for the game after three weeks in the camp. Mentally, and physically, we have prepared well, and are ready for the game,' he said. The Blue Tigers have not had the rub of the green in recent times. Out of the three matches they have played in 2025 so far, they have won one, drawn one, and lost their last match against Thailand last week. Márquez, however, is not too worried about the 0-2 defeat against Thailand. 'In my opinion, most coaches are not worried about the scores in the friendly games. We are focussing on the important match (Hong Kong),' he said. 'I know everyone speaks about the score (against Thailand). But if we scored from the chances we created, it would have been different. This is football.' In what will be the inaugural football match at the newly built 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium, the tickets, reportedly, have sold out, and a full house can be expected on Tuesday. The stadium features a retractable roof, which will be kept closed during the match. On Monday, the Blue Tigers had an official training session at the venue to get a feel of the conditions. 'We will try to enjoy the situation in this stadium. I don't know if it will be completely full, but a lot of people will be there. It will be a nice event, but obviously, we are focusing on winning the game,' said Marquez. Hong Kong, China's head coach, Ashley Westwood, is no stranger to Indian football, having coached clubs like Bengaluru FC, ATK, and Punjab FC in India before taking up international coaching roles, first in Afghanistan, followed by Hong Kong. Westwood spoke highly of the development that Indian football has seen over the years. 'I went to India in 2013, and the country is a million miles away from where it was back then. I know their coach, I watched the ISL. He's a good coach, and he's been doing good things with FC Goa. He coaches right, he prepares right, and his players are always fit. 'The spirit's good in the squad, and everybody gets on with each other. We're looking forward to it,' he said. Hong Kong midfielder Ngan Cheuk Pan stressed on the importance for his teammates and him to focus on their own game, for the clash against India. 'We're following the tactics set by the coach and focusing on what we can do to improve our own performance. We want to be able to play our own game,' he said. India and Hong Kong, China have crossed swords 24 times. The Blue Tigers have won nine of these matches, while the hosts for Tuesday's game have won eight; seven matches have ended in draws. The match will be streamed live on FanCode. UNI BM
News18
09-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
Manolo Marquez Says India 'Ready to Perform' Against Hong Kong
Last Updated: India will face Hong Kong, China on 10 June 2025 in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 as Manolo Marquez is confident after good preparations. India will face Hong Kong, China on Tuesday, 10 June 2025, in Matchday 2 of Group C in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round at Kai Tak Stadium in Kowloon. The Group C standings currently show all four teams level on one point each, after both games on Matchday 1 on 25 March ended in goalless draws. India drew with Bangladesh in Shillong, while Hong Kong secured a point against Singapore. Only the group winners will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup. India, having qualified for two consecutive Asian Cups for the first time in 2023, aim to continue their historic streak. Hong Kong, also a qualifier for the previous tournament, are competing for the sole available berth. India's head coach, Manolo Marquez, expressed confidence ahead of the Blue Tigers' match against Hong Kong. 'Our preparations have been much better this time compared to previous FIFA windows, where time was limited. We had about three weeks to prepare in Kolkata, Bangkok, and here in Hong Kong. We are ready to perform. Nothing special," Marquez said. 'The team environment is quite good. Obviously, any team's environment improves when consistently winning games. Regardless of results, the relationship between our players is very good," he added. India centre-back, Konsham Chinglensana Singh, echoed his coach's sentiments. 'We are well prepared for the game after three weeks in the camp. Mentally and physically, we are ready," he said. The Blue Tigers have had mixed results recently. Of the three matches they played in 2025, they have won one, drawn one, and lost their last match against Thailand. Marquez, however, is not overly concerned about the 2-0 defeat. 'In my opinion, most coaches aren't worried about scores in friendly games. We are focusing on the important match against Hong Kong," he stated. 'I know the score against Thailand is being discussed, but with better finishing from our chances, it could have been different. This is football." The match at the newly built 50,000-capacity Kai Tak Stadium is set to be the inaugural football event at the venue, with tickets reportedly sold out. The stadium features a retractable roof which will be kept closed during the match. On Monday, the Blue Tigers had an official training session to acclimatise to the conditions. 'We will try to enjoy the occasion at this stadium. I'm not sure if it will be completely full, but a large crowd is expected. It will be a nice event, but our focus is on winning the game," said Marquez. Hong Kong, China's head coach, Ashley Westwood, familiar with Indian football, having coached clubs like Bengaluru FC, ATK, and Punjab FC in India before his international roles in Afghanistan and Hong Kong, praised the development of Indian football over the years. 'I went to India in 2013, and the country has progressed significantly since then. I know their coach; I watched the ISL. He's a good coach, doing well with FC Goa. He trains right, prepares right, and his players are always fit. The spirit in the squad is good, and everyone gets along well. We're looking forward to it," Westwood said. Hong Kong midfielder, Ngan Cheuk Pan, emphasised the need for his team to focus on their game against India. 'We're following the coach's tactics and focusing on improving our performance. We want to play our game," he said. India and Hong Kong, China have faced each other 24 times, with the Blue Tigers winning nine matches, Hong Kong winning eight, and seven games ending in draws. First Published:
