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The AIFF’s technical committee, led by IM Vijayan, will meet to appoint a new head coach for the senior men’s team after Manolo Marquez’s exit.
Indian men’s football team head coach Manolo Marquez was fired recently (AIFF)
The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) technical committee, led by former India captain IM Vijayan, will meet on Wednesday to begin the process of appointing a new head coach for the senior men’s national team.
The post became vacant earlier this month after the AIFF and Spaniard Manolo Marquez parted ways by mutual consent following a string of poor performances.
Selection Process Underway
Following the coaching vacancy, the AIFF invited applications with a deadline of July 13. The federation has since received an overwhelming 170 applications from around the globe.
According to a source close to the proceedings, the technical committee will evaluate all applications and create a shortlist to be forwarded to the AIFF Executive Committee (EC), which will make the final decision.
With a FIFA international window in September and crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore set for October 9 and 14, the AIFF is under pressure to expedite the appointment.
This urgency could mean skipping formal interviews and relying on written submissions, including each candidate’s salary expectations and vision for Indian football.
The Executive Committee also has the authority to request additional names or further clarification before making a decision.
Star-Studded Applicant Pool
Several high-profile names have expressed interest in the job. Former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler—who previously coached East Bengal—and Harry Kewell are among the applicants, as is Peter Segrt, who has managed Tajikistan, Maldives, and Afghanistan.
Stephen Constantine, who coached India in two separate stints (2002–2005 and 2015–2019), is also in the fray. Most recently in charge of Pakistan, the 62-year-old has also coached East Bengal and national teams like Nepal, Malawi, and Rwanda.
Among Indian contenders are Khalid Jamil, Santosh Kashyap, and Sanjoy Sen—the latter fresh off leading Bengal to a Santosh Trophy win and having won the I-League with Mohun Bagan in 2014–15.
Other Notable Applicants
Foreign coaches with ISL and I-League experience have also applied, including:
- Andrey Chernyshov (Former Mohammedan Sporting)
- Sergio Lober (Odisha FC)
- Antonio Lopez Habas (former ATK and Mohun Bagan Super Giant coach)
- Stage Assembly (I-League winner whiteh Punjab FC)
Vacancy Opened After Marquez’s Exit
The AIFF officially opened applications on July 4, two days after accepting Manolo Marquez’s resignation during its Executive Committee meeting on July 2.
Though Marquez had expressed his desire to step down in April, he was requested to stay on until India’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on June 10.
India lost that match 1-0, concluding Marquez’s one-year tenure with a disappointing record—no competitive wins in eight games and just one victory in a friendly. Under his leadership, India also fell to 133rd in the FIFA rankings.
(with PTI inputs)
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term…Read More
After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term… Read More
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