The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has made a groundbreaking move by naming Khalid Jamil as the head coach of the Indian senior men’s football team. This marks the first time in 13 years that an Indian coach will lead the national team, with the last being Savio Medeira in 2011-12.
Spanish coach Manolo Marquez recently left the team after a string of poor performances and consecutive losses. Following his exit, AIFF started looking for a replacement and shortlisted Khalid Jamil, former coach Stephen Constantine, and Slovak manager Stefan Tarkovic.
The AIFF Technical Committee recommended Jamil, and with unanimous support, the AIFF Executive Committee approved the decision.
As a player, he earned 40 caps for India and clinched the National League title with Mahindra United in 2005. Later, he made history as a coach by guiding Aizawl FC, an underdog team, to the 2016–17 I-League championship, becoming the first Northeast Indian club to win the national title.
This triumph was comparable in surprise to Leicester City’s Premier League win.
Khalid Jamil’s journey
Table of Contents
- Age: 48 years, born in Kuwait
- Playing career: Midfielder for India with 40 international caps; played for Mahindra United, winning the National League in 2005.
- Coaching career: Coached Mumbai FC for six years starting in 2009; led Aizawl FC to the historic 2017 I-League title.
- Guided ISL teams NorthEast United (2020-21) and Jamshedpur FC (2023-25) to playoffs.
- Holds an AFC Pro License; successful in ISL, I-League, and I-League 2.
- He was the first Indian head coach to take charge of an ISL club full-time (NorthEast United in the 2020-21 season), where he also became the only Indian coach to guide an ISL team to the playoffs.
What is the new responsibility of Khalid Jamil?
Jamil’s first big task will be leading India in the CAFA Nations Cup, where they will compete against Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan beginning on August 29.
In October, the team will play the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in a double-header against Singapore.
The current Indian Football team’s Men’s FIFA rankings are 133rd
Why is this appointment special?
Jamil has an in-depth understanding of the domestic football system and has achieved remarkable upsets with small-budget teams.
His talent for nurturing players like Rahul Bheke, Lalengmawia Ralte, and Jayesh Rane sets him apart. He aims to elevate India’s standing on the Asian football stage once more.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said: “Indian coaches should get opportunities with the Indian national team — Jamil’s selection reflects this vision.”
Key facts
- With Jamil’s appointment, India has, after 13 years, chosen a homegrown coach.
- His next big test comes this month at the CAFA Nations Cup.
- He is known for grooming junior and youth players, and great expectations are placed on him.
- Wishing Khalid Jamil all the best as the new coach of Indian football! Here’s to a fresh start and renewed hope for the Blue Tigers’ revival!
