Khalid Jamil Appointed as Indian Football Team's Head Coach Amidst Strong Support for Local Talent

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially appointed Khalid Jamil as the head coach of the Senior Men's Indian National Team. This decision, based on recommendations from the Technical Committee (TC), was reached during a virtual meeting held on Friday. An official statement from the AIFF revealed the presence of President Kalyan Chaubey and other key committee members in the deliberations.

A comprehensive SWOT analysis of three shortlisted candidates—Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic—was presented by Technical Director Syed Sabir Pasha and National Teams Director Subrata Paul. In their assessment, Dronacharya Awardees Bimal Ghosh and Armando Colaco, along with Dhyan Chand Awardee Shabbir Ali, emphasized the importance of appointing an Indian coach. They argued that domestic coaches deserve a fair opportunity to lead the national team despite a lack of extensive international experience.

The decision was backed by Technical Committee chairperson IM Vijayan, who recalled India's higher FIFA rankings under Indian coaches like Sukhwinder Singh. Citing Jamil's accolade as AIFF Men's Coach of the Year in consecutive years, Vijayan strongly recommended him for the role. The committee recognized Jamil's familiarity with Indian players as the team prepares for upcoming international tournaments, including the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

(With inputs from agencies.)