The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is actively searching for a new head coach to succeed Igor Štimac, focusing on finding someone who can significantly enhance Indian football and deliver tangible results.
“I believe the result matters a lot. We will be looking for someone who can develop Indian football. And whoever gets appointed as chief coach, we want him to add a lot of potential to the national team’s performance,” AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey told PTI.
Chaubey revealed that the job advertisement for India’s head coach received an overwhelming response, with 291 applications submitted from both Indian and international candidates. The selection process narrowed the field to 17 names, which the Executive Committee will discuss in an upcoming meeting.
“We have received a total of 291 applications and have shortlisted 17 names from them. There are Indian and foreign names. We will have a detailed discussion about them in the Executive Committee meeting,” Chaubey said. He added that consultations with the technical committee, including virtual discussions with overseas member IM Vijayan, are ongoing.
Looking ahead, India has several crucial assignments, including a tri-nation tournament with Vietnam and Lebanon. Chaubey expressed optimism that the new coach will help India achieve positive results in these tournaments and guide the team in the right direction.
“We are looking to utilize all the FIFA windows in September, October, November, and March next year. Whether we play against lower-ranked or higher-ranked teams, the aim is to win. These matches will also provide more international exposure and match time for players,” Chaubey added.
With the retirement of Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, Chaubey acknowledged the challenge of filling the void. However, he believes that Lallianzuala Chhangte, who was recently named the Best Men’s Player at the AIFF awards, has the potential to rise to the occasion.
“Who is after Sunil Chhetri? This question comes to everybody’s mind. I think Chhangte, who has won the Player of the Year award this year, has a lot of potential. He can definitely make a long career. Such awards will inspire a player to put in an even bigger effort,” Chaubey concluded.
The AIFF’s commitment to finding a capable coach underscores its dedication to advancing Indian football and ensuring the national team continues to grow and succeed on the international stage.
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