The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed Khalid Jamil as the Head Coach of the Senior Men’s National Football Team, following a recommendation by its Technical Committee and approval from the Executive Committee during a virtual meeting held on Friday.
The decision marks a significant moment in Indian football as Jamil becomes the first full-time Indian head coach of the national team in over a decade.
In the meeting chaired by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, and attended by key officials including Vice President NA Haris, Treasurer Kipa Ajay, and members of both the Executive and Technical Committees, a detailed SWOT analysis was presented on three shortlisted candidates—Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic—by Technical Director Syed Sabir Pasha and National Teams Director Subrata Paul.
Veteran Indian coaches and awardees Bimal Ghosh, Armando Colaco, and Shabbir Ali advocated for an Indian head coach, arguing that local talent deserves equal opportunity and that Jamil’s coaching credentials make him a strong fit.
IM Vijayan, Chairperson of the Technical Committee and a decorated former footballer, endorsed Jamil, citing India’s previous successes under Indian coaches like Sukhwinder Singh and Syed Nayeemuddin, and noting Jamil’s recent accolades, including winning the AIFF Men’s Coach of the Year for both 2023–24 and 2024–25.
While a few Executive Committee members voiced support for former India coach Stephen Constantine, the majority backed Jamil, particularly in light of upcoming international commitments such as the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 and the AFC Asian Cup Final Round Qualifiers against Singapore in October.
The appointment is seen as a renewed vote of confidence in homegrown coaching talent, with stakeholders believing that Jamil’s experience with domestic players positions him well to lead India on the international stage.
