AIFF Receives Overwhelming Response for National Football Coach Position

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has received an overwhelming response to its search for a new head coach for the national men's football team, with 291 applications from across the globe. The window for applications closed on Wednesday, and the AIFF is now reviewing the candidates before presenting a shortlist to the Executive Committee.

The applications include 100 candidates with UEFA Pro License diplomas, 20 with AFC Pro License diplomas, and three with CONMEBOL licenses. AIFF chief Kalyan Chaubey expressed his excitement about the interest shown by some of the world's top coaches.

"We have received an overwhelming response with some of the marquee names having expressed their interest in India," Chaubey said. "We are hoping to onboard the candidate by end July, to ensure India utilise the September FIFA window participation."

The position became vacant after the AIFF sacked Igor Stimac last month following India's disappointing exit from the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Stimac, who was appointed in 2019, had been given an extension until 2026 last October.

The AIFF's Technical Committee, headed by Vice President NA Haris, will now review the applications and select a shortlist for the Executive Committee. The new coach is expected to be appointed by the end of July to prepare the team for the September FIFA window.

The AIFF is keen to appoint a coach who can help India qualify for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team has been struggling in recent years, and the AIFF believes that a new coach can bring fresh ideas and help the team reach its potential.

Tags: #AIFF, #IndianFootball, #NationalCoach, #FootballCoach, #IgorStimac