Khalid Jamil Appointed Head Coach of Indian Senior Men’s Football Team

The decision was based on the recommendation of the AIFF’s Technical Committee (TC), which conducted a detailed assessment of three shortlisted candidates: Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Štefan Tarkovič. The appointment marks a significant moment, as Jamil becomes the first Indian coach in several years to take charge of the senior national team.

The meeting, chaired by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, included senior federation officials and renowned Indian football figures, such as Dronacharya awardees Bimal Ghosh and Armando Colaco, and Dhyan Chand awardee Shabbir Ali. A SWOT analysis of the shortlisted candidates was presented by Technical Director Syed Sabir Pasha and National Teams Director Subrata Paul.

Prominent voices, including Colaco and Ali, advocated strongly for an Indian coach, emphasizing the importance of providing Indian coaches a fair platform. Technical Committee chairperson and football legend IM Vijayan also endorsed Jamil, recalling India’s stronger performances under previous Indian coaches like Sukhwinder Singh and Syed Nayeemuddin. Vijayan highlighted Jamil’s recent accolades, including back-to-back AIFF Men's Coach of the Year awards for 2023–24 and 2024–25.

While a few members backed former coach Stephen Constantine, the majority favored Jamil, citing his deep understanding of Indian football and his ongoing work with domestic players. Given India’s upcoming participation in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 and crucial AFC Asian Cup Final Round Qualifiers against Singapore in October, the committee felt Jamil’s familiarity with the squad would be advantageous.

The AIFF’s move is widely seen as a vote of confidence in homegrown coaching talent, aiming to align long-term national goals with domestic development.