New Delhi: The All India Football Federation has received at least 170 applications for the post of the men’s national team head coach in a 10-day window till July 13, which was the last date to show interest.
Home-grown coaches Khalid Jamil and Sanjoy Sen, along with Spaniards Antonio Lopez Habas, Antonio Rueda are among the ones who have applied.
As is Englishman Stephen Constantine, who is interested to don the role for the third time.
The AIFF invited applications on July 4 after accepting Manolo Marquez’s resignation at its executive committee meeting on July 2.
Marquez had expressed his desire to leave in April but was persuaded to stay on till India’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong on June 10.
India lost 1-0 in Hong Kong to end Marquez’s one-year tenure without a competitive victory in eight matches and with only one win in a friendly, leading to a drop to 133rd in the FIFA rankings.
When the AIFF had decided to appoint Marquez in July 2024, 291 coaches had applied, among them several big ones.
But this time, none among the applicants could be classified as ‘high-profile’. Since it is the ‘mid-season’, the pull for the top job has become limited, it is believed.
Whoever the AIFF picks would have to take over a side who are at the bottom of their Asian Cup qualifying group with his first competitive match bing against Singapore on October 9.
‘Go desi’
The AIFF wanted applicants with a “minimum of 10-15 years of coaching experience at the elite youth and senior level football.”
“Experience as the first team coach (head coach) of the senior national team will be preferred with experience of coaching in the World Cup and continental championship qualifiers being an advantage.
“Minimum of AFC/UEFA Pro license or equivalent. Experience as a football player (not necessarily at the highest national level),” was also among the requirements.
But budgetary constraints might limit the federation’s search to only home-grown options this time, with Khalid’s name being discussed in the Ex Co meeting.
The technical committee had also preferred an Indian to be in the hot seat, aware that only Khalid and Sanjoy fit the bill.
“We have told we want a home-grown person, so this time an Indian coach will be chosen,” a technical committee member told News9 Sports recently.
Khalid was offered the U-23 men’s national team job in May, but cited a two-year contract extension with Jamshedpur FC to turn it down.
Sanjoy had applied the last time too and guided Bengal to their record extending 33rd Santosh Trophy title last year.
‘Broken man’
Marquez succeeded Igor Stimac, who took a $400,000 pay-out for unilateral termination of contract, forcing the AIFF to look for options to ease the burden on their stretched coffers.
Since they preferred to hire a foreigner, the AIFF allowed Marquez to co-coach FC Goa simultaneously, agreeing to pay $10,000 for each international window to the Spanish tactician in the first of his three-year contract.
But as weren’t forthcoming and victories dried up, Marquez wished to leave, having expressed unhappiness over the functioning of the federation among his confidantes.
He is widely expected to continue at the helm of FC Goa, having earned them an AFC Champions League II qualifying spot through victory in the Super Cup.