AIFF To Reveal New Head Coach For Indian Men's Football Team On August 1: Report

Last Updated:July 25, 2025, 18:07 IST

The AIFF is set to announce the new head coach for the Indian men's national football team on August 1. The shortlisted candidates are Constantine, Tarkovic, and Jamil.

The decision to appoint a head coach will be made by August 1 tentatively (X)

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is expected to announce the next head coach of the Indian men’s national football team on August 1, as per reports.

According to Sportstar, the resumes of the three shortlisted candidates have been forwarded to the AIFF Executive Committee, which has scheduled an emergency meeting for next Friday.

The sole agenda of the meeting will be to finalize and confirm the new head coach.

The Indian men’s team has been without a head coach since July 2, following the mutual departure of Manolo Márquez after a one-year tenure, during which the team failed to win a competitive match.

Selection Process Underway

After the coaching position became vacant, the AIFF opened applications with a submission deadline of July 13. The response was overwhelming, drawing 170 applications from across the globe.

With the FIFA international window approaching in September, and crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore scheduled for October 9 and 14, the AIFF is facing pressure to expedite the appointment process.

This urgency may lead the federation to forgo formal interviews, relying instead on written submissions from candidates, which include salary expectations and a proposed vision for the development of Indian football.

The Executive Committee retains the authority to request additional candidates or seek further clarification before making a final decision.

The AIFF’s technical committee then shortlisted three candidates: experienced Anglo-Cypriot Stephen Constantine, Slovakian coach Stefan Tarkovic, and Indian tactician Khalid Jamil. All three are now being considered for the head coach position.

Former India international Renedy Singh was also under initial consideration, but according to sources within the AIFF, the current assistant coach of Bengaluru FC was not included in the final shortlist. His name was instead discussed for the assistant coach role, a decision the committee decided should be made in consultation with the incoming head coach.

Among the three finalists, Khalid Jamil is reportedly emerging as the leading contender.

Crucial Fixtures Ahead

India currently sits at the bottom of Group C in the third round of AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, following a draw against Bangladesh and a defeat to Hong Kong. Their next fixture is a home match against group leaders Singapore on October 9.

Siddarth Sriram

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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