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News18
a day ago
- Sport
- News18
Robbie Fowler, Stephen Constantine Big Names In Applicants List For India Head Coach's Job
Last Updated: Robbie Fowler and Stephen Constantine have applied for the Indian men's football team head coach position, vacated by Manolo Marquez. Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler and former coach Stephen Constantine have applied for the position of the Indian men's football team head coach, which was vacated by Manolo Marquez earlier this month, with Indian football undergoing a massive upheaval. Constantine and Fowler are among 170 candidates who have responded to the advertisement issued by AIFF earlier this month to seek a replacement for Marquez. Fowler has also coached East Bengal from 2020-21. Constantine, 62, has been in charge of India twice before, from 2002-05 and again from 2015 to the Asian Cup in 2019. He managed East Bengal in the 2022-23 season of the Indian Super League as well. Constantine's last game with Pakistan was the 0-1 loss to Myanmar on June 10, ending a stint that started in September 2023 with one victory, one draw and eight losses. There is an international window in September, but if India skip that, their next assignment will be the Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore on October 9 and 14. Former Australia and Liverpool forward Harry Kewell, whose last coaching assignment was with Yokohama F Marinos last year, has applied, as have at least three coaches in the recent Indian Super League, as per a report in The Hindustan Times. Jamshedpur FC coach Khalid Jamil, Sergio Lobera and Andrey Chernyshov have also applied. Lobera has won the Indian Super League double with Mumbai City and the Super Cup with FC Goa but missed out on a top-six berth last term. Jamil, 48, took Jamshedpur FC to the semis this year, where they lost 2-3 on aggregate to double winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant. 'Things changed when the senior team's job offer opened up. It is unlikely that there would be any national team player whom Khalid does not know well," the source told The Hindustan Times. Sanjoy Sen, who won the Santosh Trophy with Bengal and the I League with Mohun Bagan in 2015, is on the list as well. view comments 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.
First Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
Indian Football's Reputation Takes A Hit, No ISL In 2025? First Sports With Rupha Ramani
Indian Football's Reputation Takes A Hit, No ISL In 2025? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G Indian Football's Reputation Takes A Hit, No ISL In 2025? | First Sports With Rupha Ramani | N18G India's football revolution, kick-started with the Indian Super League in 2014, now finds itself at a dangerous crossroads. What was once seen as the IPL equivalent of Indian football is now plagued by uncertainty, legal battles, and a leadership vacuum. With the AIFF locked in a power struggle with FSDL, franchises losing top talent for free, and the national team struggling for results, the very future of Indian football is under threat. Rupha Ramani breaks down the legal war threatening the ISL, the financial demands that could cripple clubs, and the real cost of poor governance. Will the ISL survive? Can Indian football still dream big? Or is the beautiful game in India being choked by boardroom politics? See More
News18
4 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Durand Cup 2025: Home Favourites Hope For Strong Start To Wrest Early Advantage
The 134th Durand Cup, commencing on July 23rd, 2025, features 10 matches spread across the host cities of Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Shillong, Kokrajhar, and Imphal. This promises to be an exciting first week of football action, especially with popular home favourites aiming to gain an early advantage through strong starts. Top Indian Super League (ISL) teams, East Bengal FC (16-time former winners) and Jamshedpur FC (former ISL League Winners Shield winners), will kick off on the first two match days. Additionally, three local derbies featuring other top local contenders like Mohammedan Sporting (former champions), Shillong Lajong FC, and NEROCA FC (former finalists) are expected to attract significant local interest.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: Blue, true and glued
The carnival-like atmosphere that takes over Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Bengaluru FC (BFC) matchdays is quite an experience to soak up. The popular chants — 'Oh, when the Blues go marching in …' and 'Namma Ooru, Bengaluru …'— are sheer goosebumps. Vociferous fans, faces painted in club colours, waving flags and scarves, sing paeans to their heroes, like the boisterous football following seen in England and Spain. The BFC team bus most often slows down as it enters the players' area, allowing those on it to peek through the windows and absorb the mood. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru The loud, energetic chants and blue flames surrounding the stadium, that evoke memories of prematch rituals in Europe, have now become a trademark of sorts for BFC – also known as the Blues. At the heart of this excitement are the West Block Blues, named after West Block A at the Bangalore Football Stadium. This group initiated the pre-match welcome routine in the I-League era. The first official BFC fan group emerged from local pubs, where friends usually gather to watch their favourite Premier League clubs in action. BFC provided them with a common identity, which has grown in popularity across India. Their enthusiastic voices have been a constant presence at Bangalore Football Stadium, continuing into the current Indian Super League matches at Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Home team coaches and players alike have expressed their reliance on the home crowd, time and again, even as the opponents feel the pressure -with fans serving as BFC's '12th man'. 'When BFC was formed in 2013, we found a common song to sing. Before that, we were singing for different teams like Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, or Arsenal. Once we came together, everything fell into place. We needed an identity, and that identity shaped us into who we are today. I credit this to Bengaluru. That's what we are. We're from different places,' said Rakesh Haridas, a key member of the West Block Blues. Supporting football clubs is part of the city's rich legacy, dating back to teams like Bangalore Muslims, HAL, ITI, ADE FC, LRD, and CIL. While crowd sizes varied depending upon the opponents, the passion displayed by the supporters has always been unmatched. Occasionally, tensions flared in the stands, leading to scuffles among the fans. However, times have changed. Today, BFC stands out. The club has significantly influenced the city's football landscape. It has made efforts to connect with the community, both on and off the field, which has earned them a reputation as a 'family club'. During the pandemic, when the world came to a standstill, BFC launched the 'Back on Our Feet' campaign to promote and support local businesses severely impacted by the lockdown. The club partnered with several NGOs and has been involved in various initiatives, such as Dream A Dream, Gubbachi Learning Community, Magic Bus, and Second Chance over the last decade. In 2019, BFC received praise for accommodating Meghana Nair, who at 33 weeks pregnant, was upgraded to the owners' box after requesting permission to bring hot water from home. A similar tale unfolded in 2023 when Sharmista Shankarnarayana, a regular attendee, reached out to the club after her surgery, eager to return to the stands with her medications and homemade snacks. The club readily approved her request. 'My case is not an isolated one. There are many stories where the club has gone the extra mile to accommodate fans at times of need. They organise events that allow fans to interact with the players. BFC is more than just a club; it feels like home. This club is truly special,' said Sharmista, who also travels to away matches occasionally. The club also invites fans to attend open training sessions before the season starts. These sessions become a family affair, with parents bringing their children along, and there are 'selfie moments' aplenty, with a smiling Sunil Chhetri and the other players. Interestingly, at the first-ever training session in 2013, only a handful of fans had showed up. 'There are events organised by the club for its fans, and if you regularly attend those, players and management will gradually get to know you. They may even address you by your name, as I have experienced with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Chhetri,' added Sharmista, who appreciates the club's sense of community. The former I-league and ISL champions are one of the most successful clubs in India with a rich haul of trophies within a short time span. With competition getting tougher by the year, the club has had its fair share of struggles, but the loyal fans have always backed the team -- come rain or shine. 'It's no longer a club for us. It's an emotion. This club is a family to us,' said Manoj Mallaraddi, a member of a fan group called North End Blues, formed in 2022. 'There is a special bond between the club and the fans, where we the fans are always taken good care of and so we always stick to the club, no matter the result.'
Mint
4 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
Football: A turning point for India's Blue Tigresses
Chances are you didn't see the biggest thing to happen to Indian football in recent times. After all, it wasn't beamed on live television or picked up by any of the plethora of streaming services. When India played Thailand earlier this month, in a match that would decide their fate for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup football and keep their World Cup dream alive, it was only streamed live on the Changsuek YouTube Channel and Thai Women's Football Facebook Page. Most of India was hence tuned out as the national women's football team made history. They defeated Thailand, a team ranked 24 places above them in the FIFA rankings, 2-1 on 5 July to qualify for the Asian Cup for the very first time. Yes, India had played the showpiece continental event before —in 2003, when they competed directly in the main draw, and then in 2022, when they were given an automatic spot as hosts but had to leave the tournament due to a covid-19 outbreak in the team. But this was the first Indian side to earn their place in the line-up, that includes football powerhouses like Japan, Australia and South Korea. To get there, they defeated Thailand, a team they had never beaten before in front of their home crowd at the Chiang Mai Stadium. 'It is sad," says India's most-capped player Loitongbam Ashalata Devi, who sat out the tournament as she is recovering from an ankle injury. 'That we had to watch it on the Facebook page of the rival team. But this is why the success of the Indian team is so important. No one will support us till we prove ourselves." The Indian women's team is no stranger to indifference. Though not the most competent of bodies, the All India Football Federation's governance of the women's game was shambolic till recently. The first top-flight club tournament, the Indian Women's League (IWL), was only founded in 2016. National camps were few and far between. In 2023, the IWL took place after the completion of the more popular men's Indian Super League and were made to play in the afternoon in April in the sweltering heat in Ahmedabad. Things have improved in the last couple of years. The IWL now takes place over four months, rather than the 18 days it started out with. Participating clubs have adopted a more professional approach and have boosted player salaries. Players like Manisha Kalyan, Soumya Gugoloth and Jyoti Chauhan earned contracts with European clubs and brought back all that knowledge and experience. Even now, Ashalata points out, most of the national team members have to take up government jobs to sustain themselves. This is what the Indian team that played in Thailand was battling for, a lost past and a better future. The team was as prepared as they had ever been. A two-month national camp under the guidance of new coach Crispin Chhetri, and international friendlies had helped them get ready for the challenge ahead. The 'Blue Tigresses" started their journey by ripping through the competition. They defeated Mongolia 13-0, Timor Leste 4-0 and Iraq 5-0 in their first three Group B matches to set up a tantalising decider. Going into the final match against the hosts, India were dead level with Thailand on nine points and goal difference of +22. It was a virtual knockout against an opponent they had never beaten. Thailand were seeking their 10th Asian Cup qualification and had been to the World Cup twice, in 2015 and 2019. 'That morning, we did our prep, had the team meeting," says defender Sweety Devi Ngangbam, who captained the Indian team in the match against Thailand. 'We knew this was the one chance in our life to go through. We believed in each other, knew we had a great chance with this group." 'There was no room for error, we had to do this," the 25-year-old adds. 'I was lucky that my father was a football coach, pushed me into the game and supported me throughout. But I have seen so many players struggle. Most of them have to battle their families and society just to play the game. Then, they have to deal with things like lack of funds, of access to grounds or a proper diet. So many had to face these challenges, we knew we needed to do this for the future generation of players." This was a team on a mission. Sangita Basfore gave them the lead in the 29th minute. But Thailand came back hard in the second half and scored through Chatchawan Rodhong in the 47th minute. After Basfore secured a lead for India once again, in the 74th minutes, the Indian team protected their lead gallantly, throwing bodies in defence as Thailand mounted one attack after another. Once the final whistle blew, the Indian team erupted in joy, then melted down in tears. 'We kept hugging, and reassuring ourselves that we had done it," says Sweety Devi. While qualifying for the Asian Cup for the first time in 23 years is a historic achievement indeed, the endgame for this team is the World Cup. The AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia will serve as a qualifying event, with the top six teams progressing to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. 'This could be a turning point in women's football in India," says Ashalata, 32. 'The road to World Cup is open." The dream is on. Hopefully, there may be a few more takers this time. Deepti Patwardhan is a sportswriter based in Mumbai
