Khalid Jamil Appointed Head Coach of India Men’s Team

Photo:X/ @InstaBharat

In a big and important decision, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially selected Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the Indian Senior Men’s National Football Team. The decision was made during a virtual Executive Committee (EC) meeting held on Friday, August 1, 2025.

This announcement has brought excitement among football lovers in the country, as it marks a new chapter in Indian football. The selection came after detailed discussions and a careful look at all the shortlisted candidates.

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Who Took Part in the Decision?

The virtual meeting saw the presence of many important people from Indian football. Leading the meeting was AIFF President Shri Kalyan Chaubey, along with Vice President Shri NA Haris and Treasurer Shri Kipa Ajay.

Also present were the members of both the Executive Committee and the Technical Committee, including some highly respected names in Indian football. This included:

• Mr. Bimal Ghosh (Dronacharya Awardee coach)

• Mr. Armando Colaco (Dronacharya Awardee coach)

• Mr. Shabbir Ali (Dhyan Chand Awardee)

These senior figures, along with the AIFF Technical Director Syed Sabir Pasha and National Teams Director Subrata Paul, helped guide the decision by presenting a SWOT analysis of three shortlisted coaches.

The three shortlisted candidates were:

• Khalid Jamil (India)

• Stephen Constantine (UK)

• Štefan Tarkovič (Slovakia)

Why Khalid Jamil Was Chosen

A detailed SWOT analysis was presented for all three coaches. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, and this helps in making the best choice based on a coach’s experience, track record, and style of work.

After going through the analysis, two respected senior coaches, Mr. Armando Colaco and Mr. Shabbir Ali, strongly shared the opinion that Indian coaches must be given more chances to lead the national team.

They recalled how, during their own coaching careers, they also started without national team experience but were given opportunities to prove themselves. They said that if Indian coaches are never given a fair chance, they won’t grow or improve.

Support from the Technical Committee

The head of the AIFF’s Technical Committee, IM Vijayan, who is also a Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee, gave strong support to the selection of Khalid Jamil. He reminded the members that during his playing days, India had much better FIFA rankings under Indian coaches like Sukhwinder Singh and Syed Nayeemuddin.

He added that Khalid Jamil has already won the AIFF’s Men’s Coach of the Year Award twice—for the years 2023–24 and 2024–25—which shows his capability and dedication.

Wider Support from the Committee Members

After Mr. Vijayan’s strong recommendation, most members of the Executive Committee agreed. Many of them also felt that appointing an Indian coach would be a big step in the right direction for the growth of Indian football.

Some of the members who supported this move include:

• Ms. Pinky Bompal Magar

• Ms. Thongam Tababi Devi

• Mr. Climax Lawrence

• Mr. Menla Ethenpa

• Mr. Arif Ali

• Mr. Mohan Lal

• And many more

They all felt that for the betterment of Indian football, the AIFF must trust in Indian talent and give more opportunities to home-grown coaches.

Some Members Preferred Stephen Constantine

Not everyone was on the same page. A few members of the Executive Committee suggested that Stephen Constantine, who had coached India in the past, might be a better choice. He has international coaching experience and knows Indian football well.

However, after all the views were heard and full discussions were completed, the final vote went in favor of Khalid Jamil.

Why This Decision Was Urgent

One of the key reasons the decision could not be delayed is because the Indian national team has important matches coming up. India will be:

• Playing in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 later this month

• Competing in AFC Asian Cup Final Round Qualifier matches against Singapore in October 2025

These are high-pressure tournaments, and the AIFF felt it was better to appoint someone who already knows the Indian football players well and can immediately start working with the team.

Khalid Jamil has been working closely with Indian players for several years, especially in domestic leagues like the I-League and Indian Super League (ISL). This gives him a big advantage, as he understands the strengths and weaknesses of Indian players better than anyone.

What This Means for Indian Football

This decision to appoint Khalid Jamil is being seen as a positive and historic moment for Indian football. It shows that the AIFF is willing to support Indian talent, not just among players but also among coaches.

Giving this opportunity to a coach like Khalid Jamil, who has climbed the ladder step by step, sends a strong message to all Indian coaches—that hard work and dedication will be rewarded.

About Khalid Jamil

Khalid Jamil has had a long and inspiring journey in Indian football. He is known for his discipline, knowledge of the game, and his ability to get the best out of young players.

He started his coaching career after playing professionally and slowly worked his way up, coaching various Indian clubs and earning respect for his deep understanding of Indian football.

Some of his key achievements include:

• Leading Aizawl FC to a historic I-League title in 2016–17

• Coaching top clubs like East Bengal and NorthEast United FC

• Winning AIFF’s Men’s Coach of the Year Award in 2023–24 and 2024–25

With important international matches on the horizon, the AIFF’s decision to bring in a trusted and capable Indian coach like Khalid Jamil could be a game-changer.

This step shows that Indian football is ready to believe in itself and create new success stories not just through players but also through coaches.

The football community, young players, and fans across India will now be watching closely, as Khalid Jamil leads India into the next big football journey.