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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
AIFF technical team to shortlist coach candidates in midweek meeting
The technical committee of the AIFF, headed by former captain IM Vijayan, will meet on Wednesday to shortlist the candidates for the appointment of the head coach of the senior men's national team after the federation received 170 applications for the vacant post. After Spaniard Manolo Marquez and the All India Football Federation mutually agreed to part ways earlier this month following the team's downward spiral, the national body invited applications for the top job with July 13 as deadline. "The technical committee will meet on July 23, review the applications and prepare a shortlist to be given to the AIFF executive committee. The AIFF EC will then take the final call (on the appointment)," a source privy to the development told PTI. It is learnt that the AIFF is in favour of making the appointment quickly as there is a FIFA international match window in September and India play their AFC Asian Cup qualifying round games on October 9 and 14 -- against Singapore home and away. In this scenario, the shortlisted candidates may not be called for interviews which will take much more time before the actual appointment. The AIFF has already written to the applicants about how much they want (as remuneration) and what is their vision of the national team. "It's not the start of season and so the AIFF has to appoint a coach quickly. But it is up to the TC to decide if they want to interview the candidates. "It's likely that the TC will shortlist the candidates and present it to the EC for the appointment. The TC will present the EC the details through a presentation why they are shortlisting the candidates." Then, it is up to the executive committee to take a call on the appointment. The EC can also ask the TC to recommend more names and ask further questions, the source said. Other members of the technical committee include Shabbir Ali, Victor Amalraj, Climax Lawrence, Harjinder Singh and Santosh Singh. Meanwhile, among the 170 candidates who have applied for the job are some big names like former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler -- who was briefly in charge of East Bengal also -- and Harry Kewell, as well as Peter Segrt, former coach of Tajikistan, Maldives and Afghanistan. Former India head coach Stephen Constantine has also applied for the post. The 62-year-old Anglo-Cypriot has been in charge of the Indian team twice earlier -- from 2002 to 2005, and from 2015 to the Asian Cup in 2019. Constantine has also coached East Bengal in the Indian Super League in 2022-23, and was till recently head coach of Pakistan. He has earlier worked as head coach of countries like Nepal, Malawi and Rwanda. Not many Indians have applied for the job with only Khalid Jamil, Sanjoy Sen and Santosh Kashyap being the top coaches among them. Sen won the 2024-25 Santosh Trophy with Bengal and the I-League with Mohun Bagan in 2014-15. Former Mohammedan Sporting coach Andrey Chernyshov, Odisha FC's Sergio Lobera, Inter Kashi gaffer Antonio Lopez Habas, an ISL winner with ATK and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and Staikos Vergetis, I-League winner with Punjab FC, are also in the fray.
India Gazette
02-07-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
AIFF Technical Committee recommends appointment of new Indian men's head coach, collectively decide on Marquez' termination
New Delhi [India], July 2 (ANI): The All India Football Federation (AIFF) Technical Committee (TC), chaired by former India captain IM Vijayan, on Tuesday recommended to the Executive Committee that a new head coach be appointed for the Senior Men's National Team through an open application process. The members collectively decided on the mutual termination of Head Coach Manolo Marquez's contract. A new advertisement will be floated, inviting applications for the post. The Executive Committee, chaired by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, met on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, with TC Deputy Chairpersons Shabbir Ali and Harjinder Singh, and members Tababi Devi and Climax Lawrence. Also present were the AIFF President's Advisors Armando Colaco and Bimal Ghosh, Technical Director Syed Sabir Pasha, Director of National Teams Subrata Paul, and members of the Executive Committee, as per an AIFF press release. Marquez was appointed as the head coach of the Indian side almost an year back and since then, out of eight games, India has won just won one game back in March against Maldives. His last match, for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup qualification in June, ended in a 0-1 loss to Hong Kong. It was also discussed and proposed by the Executive Committee, in consultation with the TC, to increase match time for Indian players, particularly strikers, by reducing the number of foreign players in both leagues. In addition, a feasibility study will be conducted to explore the possibility of fielding U23 national team probables in the I-League, as part of long-term preparations for the Asian Games. The house further agreed on the practicality of implementing these changes in consultation with club owners and the league management, to ensure decisions are taken in the best interest of the national team. The Committee further congratulated the Senior India Women's National Team on their 5-0 victory against Iraq in their AFC Women's Asian Cup Group B qualification match. (ANI)
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Vijayan, the policeman retires. The footballer plays on
IM Vijayan during police duty in the 2018 state elections KOCHI: IM Vijayan , the mercurial India footballer refuses to retire. Even if his India and club career ended in the mid-2000s, the 56-year-old continues to keep himself entertained, and regularly dazzle, Kerala, with Sevens Football , wildly popular in the state. On Wednesday, however, Vijayan, the policeman will call time on his career. It will mark the end of one of the most unique -- tumultuous and affection-filled -- player-organisation relationships in Indian sport: Vijayan and Kerala Police , the organisation that 'adopted' him and gave wings to his footballing career. Those familiar with Vijayan – nicknamed 'Kalo Hoiran' on Kolkata's maidan for his unpredictable style of play -- would attest that this unpredictable nature extended beyond the field. The contrast was particularly striking given his role in Kerala Police, an institution that values strict discipline. The sight of someone so free-spirited marching in police parades presented an interesting juxtaposition, but it also lent another dimension to Vijayan, the chameleon. On the eve of his retirement, considering his contributions to the sport, the Kerala govt passed an extraordinary order by creating a supernumerary post of Deputy Commandant for the footballer at the Malabar Special Force. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Best-Paying Degrees of 2025 Are Not What You Think Best Paying Degrees | Search Ads Learn More Just like his retirement, Vijayan's recruitment to the police team too came under extraordinary circumstances. In 1986, when Vijayan appeared for the selection trials, he was only 17. Technically, it was not possible for Kerala Police to recruit him. But on watching him at the trials, MK Joseph, the then Kerala DGP, decided to go beyond the rules and include him as a guest player. The decision turned the fortunes of both Vijayan, his police team, and perhaps, Indian football . Starting as a constable in 1987, Vijayan showcased exceptional talent for Kerala Police at the Quilon Nationals in 1987. He soon became an integral part of the team that included the likes of many India regulars, VP Sathyan (defender), U Sharaf Ali (forward), CV Pappachan (winger), KT Chacko (goalkeeper) and Kurikesh Mathew (midfielders). 'In a team which had Pappachan, it was difficult to find a place for Vijayan in the beginning,' said the then Kerala Police team coach AM Sreedharan. However, Vijayan quickly established himself as an essential team member with his remarkable finishing skills, and with Pappachan alongside, the duo became one of the most feared strike forces in the country in the late 1980s and early 1990s and gave Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal quite a fright. 'We all had the capability to dribble, but he was too good inside the penalty box. It was like we just had to take the ball inside the box and Vijayan would do the rest,' recalled Pappachan. Vijayan's prolific goal-scoring ability helped Kerala Police achieve two back-to-back Federation Cup titles in 1990 and 1991. Soon, he was the hottest thing in Indian football, his goal-scoring prowess the envy of his rivals, and they were jostling with each other to sign him. Finally, it was Bagan who lured Vijayan to Kolkata in 1991 with an enticing offer. However, after a brief stint, he returned to the police team a year later. 'When Vijayan left for Kolkata in 1991, there were plans to terminate him from service. But along with some senior players, I convinced the higher authorities that after playing in Kolkata, Vijayan's experience would help us, and he rejoined Kerala Police," added Sreedharan. But in 1993, he left the police squad again, but this time he left for a longer duration. 'But when he left again, he showed no intentions of coming back, and the department had no choice other than to terminate him from service," said Pappachan. For almost two decades, he played for various clubs across the country that included JCT Mills, Phagwara, FC Kochin, East Bengal, and Churchill Brothers. However, in 2012, when the Kerala Police squad was revamped, Vijayan was brought back and was made coach of the team. He returned as an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) and was later promoted to Assistant Commandant in 2021. 'Vijayan is a brand, and that is the reason why he got special treatment. Both the department and the govt know this,' added Vijayan's former teammate Sharaf Ali. Post-retirement, Vijayan plans to stay closer to the game. "After retirement, my focus will remain on football, and I want to stay connected to it for the rest of my life," said Vijayan, expressing his plans to establish a football academy in Thrissur, his hometown.
