31-07-2025
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.
