Latest news with #XaviHernandez
India Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
College student claims to pose as Xavi in email to AIFF for India coach job: Report
The Indian footballing community was left amazed when reports emerged that the legendary Spanish footballer, Xavi Hernandez, had applied for the role as Head Coach of the Indian men's football team. But the excitement was soon turned to disappointment after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) highlighted that they could not confirm whether the application was genuine or another twist in the tale has emerged. A report by The Telegraph suggests that the person who sent the email was just a 19-year-old college student. He studies at the Vellore Institute of Technology, a private university in Tamil Nadu and used ChatGPT to create the copy pasted the [ChatGPT] response and mailed it. I didn't attach a CV or anything, but I think they saw the mail,' the student was quoted as saying. The AIFF had released a statement on Saturday, July 26, where they revealed they had these supposed applications but could not verify their authenticity regarding this. Surprisingly, they even mentioned that the current Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, was also on the list of applicants.'Additionally, the AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine,' the AIFF's statement new head coach has yet to be finalised, and Indian football looks to be in dire straits at both club and international levels. The Indian Super League's future also remains uncertain due to the ongoing tussle between AIFF and FSDL yet to officially Indian football body revealed that they have culled down the applications to just three. They also suggested that they were searching for someone who has a better understanding of the Asian football scene, and in India as well.'A key takeaway from the deliberations was the shared view that appointing a coach with a deep understanding of the Asian and Indian football ecosystem would be highly beneficial to the national team's immediate and future success,' the statement read.- Ends
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez applications are a hoax, says Indian football federation
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Spanish coaches Xavi Hernandez (left) and Pep Guardiola have not applied to helm India's football team. NEW DELHI – Coaching applications supposedly from Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez to manage India's football team turned out to be a hoax, the national association said on July 26. Subrata Paul, national team director of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), told The Times of India on July 24 that Xavi had applied for the vacant job. The report also quoted an AIFF technical committee member saying his candidacy was deemed too expensive to pursue. But the AIFF this weekend said the approaches were not 'genuine'. 'The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine,' the AIFF said in a statement. Manchester City manager Guardiola's application was never reported earlier. In May, Xavi told The Athletic that he follows the Indian Super League due to the number of Spanish coaches plying their trade there. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road South sinkhole removed; road remains closed for repairs Singapore Workers used nylon rope to rescue driver of car that fell into Tanjong Katong Road sinkhole Life Vet Talk: Pet owners and vets need to work together to prevent infectious zoonotic diseases Singapore Benchmark barrier: Six of her homeschooled kids had to retake the PSLE Singapore For Singapore to do well, PAP govt has to continue to hold its own: SM Lee Asia S'porean trainee doctor in Melbourne arrested for allegedly filming colleagues in toilets since 2021 Singapore Mum at 15: More teens in Singapore gave birth in 2024 Business Already owning 5 properties, woman wanted elderly dad's 4 homes He said: 'La Liga (I follow) the most. Then the Premier League. Not so much the French league, but sometimes I'll watch PSG or Marseille, especially Paris. Italy, I follow Como because I have a couple of friends there, Sergi Roberto and Cesc Fabregas. 'I have good friends in Saudi (Arabia) and Qatar, so I follow the leagues there. I watch a lot. I love football. I also follow Panama because my friend is there. And sometimes the Indian League because many Spanish coaches are there.' Indian newspaper The Telegraph reported on July 26 that a 19-year-old student at Vellore Institute of Technology has claimed credit for the prank Xavi application but said he did not send the notice of interest for Guardiola. He said he created a fake e-mail and asked ChatGPT to 'Write an e-mail by Xavi Hernandez expressing his interest to coach the Indian football team', which he eventually sent to the AIFF twice. The AIFF sacked former India manger Igor Stimac in June 2024 before appointing Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who left the job in July and returned to his role as coach of Indian Super League team FC Goa after just one year and one win in eight games. India's next opponents are Singapore in an Asian Cup qualifying double header in October. The AIFF technical committee said it had reviewed 170 applications for the national coach role, narrowing the list to 10, before short-listing three candidates. India are 133rd in the Fifa rankings – their lowest placing in nearly a decade – and have won just one of their last 16 matches. AFP, REUTERS
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Guardiola and Xavi applications a hoax, says Indian football
NEW DELHI: Coaching applications supposedly from Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez to manage India's football team turned out to be a hoax, the national association said yesterday. Subrata Paul, national team director of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), said earlier this week that Xavi had applied to the vacant job. But the AIFF this weekend said the approaches were not "genuine." "The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine," the AIFF said in a statement. Manchester City manager Guardiola's application was never reported earlier. The Indian men's team are without a coach since Spaniard Manolo Marquez stepped down earlier this month as head coach after just one year and one win in eight games. The AIFF advertised the vacancy, and later said it received 170 applications. India's men are 133rd in the FIFA rankings — their lowest placing in nearly a decade — and have won just one of their last 16 matches.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Guardiola and Xavi applications a hoax, says Indian football
COACHING applications supposedly from Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez to manage India's football team turned out to be a hoax, the national association said on Saturday. Subrata Paul, national team director of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), said earlier this week that Xavi had applied to the vacant job. But the AIFF this weekend said the approaches were not 'genuine'. 'The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine,' the AIFF said in a statement. Manchester City manager Guardiola's application was never reported earlier. The Indian men's team are without a coach since Spaniard Manolo Marquez stepped down earlier this month as head coach after just one year and one win in eight games. The AIFF advertised the vacancy, and later said it received 170 applications. India's men are 133rd in the FIFA rankings -- their lowest placing in nearly a decade -- and have won just one of their last 16 matches - AFP
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Hindu
Xavi Hernandez and Pep Guardiola's applications were not genuine: AIFF
A day after its top official claimed that World Cup-winning Spanish great Xavi Hernandez was among the applicants for India football coach's position, the All India Football Federation said that the e-mail received in his name was found to be "not genuine" and three others have been short-listed for the job. The AIFF did not reveal the names in the pruned list but it is widely believed that Khalid Jamil, currently the head coach of Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC, is the front-runner for the post left vacant by Spaniard Manolo Marquez. "The AIFF received an e-mail furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the e-mail applications were not genuine," AIFF stated in a media release. One of its officials, on conditions of anonymity, had stated on Friday that the application of Xavi could not be processed as the AIFF did not have resources to hire his services. The IM Vijayan-headed Technical Committee, it is learnt, has also kept Englishman Stephen Constantine, who has previously coached India, and Slovakia's Stefan Tarkovic in the short-list. Constantine has coached the Indian team in two phases earlier, while Tarkovic is the most decorated among the shortlisted candidates having managed Slovakia during the 2020 Euro Championship, where his team beat a fancied Poland which had Bayern Munich legend Robert Lewandowski in its ranks. "Following comprehensive discussions and a rigorous selection process, 10 candidates were selected for the committee to review, following which, the TC shortlisted three," the release also stated. "Given the immediate needs of the national team, it is advisable to recommend three coaches from the short-listed pool for final consideration," former India skipper Vijayan was quoted as saying in the release. "Other prominent applicants, many of whom are highly qualified international coaches, will be taken into account for long-term strategic roles in the future," he added. National Team Director Subrata Paul, also a former India skipper, spoke about preference being given to those with some understanding of Indian football. "It is a very important moment for Indian football, and we are committed to appointing a coach who not only brings technical expertise but also understands the unique style, culture, and dynamics of Indian and Asian football. "We believe such a coach will be able to connect with our players quickly and effectively," Paul stated.
