Football: Homegrown hero Khalid Jamil appointed head coach of India football team
Jamil replaces Manolo Marquez as India head coach
Indian football was thrust into uncertainty a couple of months ago when Manolo Marquez made a shocking decision to resign as head coach of the Indian national football team less than a year into his tenure, following a run of poor results.
The Spanish tactician oversaw just eight games and recorded only a single victory, which came against the Maldives in a friendly in March. His team also failed to score in five matches during his reign, including their AFC Asian Cup 2027 third round qualifiers against Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
Following Manolo's departure, the All India Football Federation opened up the position of national team head coach, and it is understood that they shortlisted from over 170 applications before deciding on Khalid Jamil as the team's next leader for the foreseeable future. The AIFF’s announcement on X read:
“The AIFF Executive Committee, in the presence of the Technical Committee, has approved the appointment of Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the Senior India Men’s National Team.”
Jamil’s first assignment will be to lead the Blue Tigers to the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup later this year, at which point he will also become the first Indian to take charge of the national football team since Savio Medeira between October 2011 and June 2012.
The 48-year-old became a household name in 2016-17 when he led Aizawl FC to the top flight. Since then, he has also managed East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan, NorthEast United FC, and currently, Jamshedpur FC.
Head coach appointment receives mixed reactions from Indian fans
Jamil’s appointment as head coach of the India football team has earned mixed reactions from fans and stakeholders alike, with some embracing the change with open arms, while others have criticised the AIFF’s decision, given the recent form of the national team.
Under the guidance of foreign coaches Igor Stimac and Marquez, the Blue Tigers slipped to their worst world ranking in years, now 133rd according to FIFA, which has prompted some to argue that a local head coach is what may be needed to spark a turnaround.
However, a large faction of Indian football fans believe that without a leader who possesses international experience, the team will struggle to make an impact on the global stage, such as the FIFA World Cup and continental competitions.
Still, it should be noted that Jamil has built his reputation on defying the odds with teams that are widely considered underdogs, and his exposure to Indian football at various levels could prove crucial in helping selectors identify rising talents who could propel the team forward in the future.
