The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday appointed Khalid Jamil as the new head coach

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday appointed Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the Indian men’s national football team, making him the first Indian to hold the position in over a decade. The last Indian to coach the senior national side was Savio Medeira, who served from October 2011 to March 2012.

Jamil’s appointment comes at a time when Indian football is in urgent need of fresh direction following a stretch of underwhelming performances. He replaces Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who stepped down last month after a winless tenure that lasted more than a year.

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.#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/R1FQ61pyr4

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) August 1, 2025

Jamil was selected from a shortlist of three candidates, which also included former India coach Stephen Constantine and Slovakian manager Stefan Tarkovic. The AIFF Technical Committee, headed by former India goalkeeper Subrata Pal, finalised the list on July 22 and recommended Jamil. On August 1, the AIFF Executive Committee formally endorsed the decision, handing Jamil one of the most high-pressure roles in Indian football.

Who is Khalid Jamil?

Currently, he is head coach of ISL team Jamshedpur FC, whom he led to a fifth-placed finish in the 2024-25 season. He is the only Indian manager to qualify for the ISL playoffs, which he did with NorthEast United in the 2020-21 campaign.

A former India player, he represented the national team as a midfielder in 40 matches, and joined coaching in 2009 with a six-year stint at Mumbai Football Club. Then he joined Aizawl FC, notably winning the I-League with them. He has also had managerial roles in both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

Now 48-years-old, he was born in Kuwait City. While in Kuwait, he met France legend Michel Platini at an under-14 camp. Jamil is also an AFC Pro License Diploma holder.

He began his club career in India with Mahindra United, and then left for Air India in 1998. Then in 2002, he returned to Mahindra United, but barely played due to injuries, which also led to an early retirement. Then he joined Mumbai FC, where he didn’t play a single game.

His contract with Jamshedpur FC runs until 2026, and according to reports, he is expected to take up a dual role until the conclusion of the 2025 Durand Cup, where they have already reached the quarterfinals. 

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If there’s one thing that can make Indian football fans sit up, it’s the possibility of a global football legend like Xavi Hernandez coaching the national team. Yes, you read that right. The man who pulled the strings for Barcelona and Spain, applying to coach India’s men’s football team, sounds unreal, right? But believe it or not, Xavi’s name did land in the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) inbox this week, and it made plenty of headlines. But, as quickly as the excitement built up, it faded. The AIFF didn’t shortlist Xavi for the big job. But why? Let’s see.

Xavi Hernandez’s Stunning Application

Xavi, the midfield magician, actually sent an application to AIFF for the vacant India head coach position.

The AIFF technical committee was surprised, even a bit stunned, to see a name as big as Xavi, right alongside Indian football regulars like Stephen Constantine and Khalid Jamil. Xavi sent his application personally by email, making things even more striking for everyone involved.

Why Was Xavi Rejected?

Let’s cut straight to the chase. Was Xavi Hernandez rejected because he didn’t have the credentials? Far from it. His CV is almost unbelievable:

But even with all these medals, AIFF did not move forward with Xavi’s application.

The real reason? Money.

AIFF officials openly admitted that Xavi’s financial expectations were much higher than what the Indian football ecosystem could afford right now. In simple terms, Xavi’s salary demands were so high that they left the technical committee searching for words.

A committee member summed it up well: “Even if Xavi was genuinely interested in Indian football and could be convinced to take up the job, we would need a lot of money.” The budget just couldn’t stretch that far.

Some fans are a bit disappointed, but others see this as a reality check. Hiring a global superstar is tempting, but Indian football needs sustainability and development as much as glamour. The move might have made international waves, but it just wasn’t practical in 2025.

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