Bhaichung reveals the point behind Khalid Jamil’s selection as chief national coach
Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia said the All India Football Federation (AIFF) chose him because he is unlikely to make too many demands. Bhaichung, speaking to PTI after the Fidel Castro Centenary Football Cup’s exhibition match, also said he feels sorry for Jamil for taking charge of the senior national team at a difficult time. “We have got two world-class coaches (Igor Stimac and Manolo Marquez) leaving. If these two coaches could not work with the AIFF, then you bring people who will listen and will do what the federation says,” Bhutia said. When asked about coach Jamil’s ability, Bhaichung explained, “I think Jamil being a domestic coach fits into that, as he is fairly new to the team. I feel sorry for him as well, as he is taking charge of the team when it’s in a very difficult situation,” he added. Aiming AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey Bhutia said, “For Kalyan, he (Jamil) is the right guy because Indian coaches do not demand much. “At the same time, he is saying that there are financial problems, and today the AIFF has gone into such a bad situation that we don’t have money to pay the coaches as well.” Chaubey had recently admitted that club football is “going through a crisis” due to the uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League, while attributing the situation to “some self-claimed reformers with vested interests”. Bhutia also raised concerns over the federation’s handling of administrative matters. “When the Supreme Court appointed the ad-hoc committee to run the federation for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the federation should have asked the SC whether we can run it, or we should have a new body. “That delay of three years clashed with the MRA rights getting over. That timing could have been tackled much more before coming to this stage. They should have gone to the SC and asked. I have been saying this to find out whether this body can continue, which they did not do purposely,” Bhutia added.
Khalid Jamil has signed a two-year contract, will serve as full-time India coach: AIFF
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday said Khalid Jamil has taken charge of the senior men’s team on a full-time basis for a period of two years with an option to extend his contract by one year depending on results. The AIFF said Jamil has signed the contract after parting ways with ISL team Jamshedpur FC. Jamil will begin his first training camp on 15th August at the Dravid-Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru. His first assignment with the Blue Tigers will be the CAFA Nations Cup, where India will face hosts Tajikistan (August 29), Iran (September 1) and Afghanistan (September 4) in Group B. In the October FIFA Window, India will play two crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying matches against Singapore (October 9 and 14). Jamil said, “I am both deeply proud and immensely privileged to have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading our national team. “Over the years, I have had the opportunity to train Indian players, and I have grown to understand their strengths and weaknesses intimately. These insights will be fundamental to everything we do as we prepare for the CAFA Nations Cup and the upcoming crucial Asian Cup Qualifiers against Singapore.” He has replaced Manolo Marquez, whose contract was terminated by the AIFF last month. Jamil, the first Indian to coach the men’s national team since Savio Medeira in 2012, has extensive coaching experience in the Indian Super League and the I-League, managing clubs like Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, Aizawl FC, East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan AC and Mumbai FC. The 48-year-old’s most recent spell with Jamshedpur FC saw the Red Miners reach the final of the Super Cup 2025, and the semi-finals of the ISL play-offs 2024-25 and the Super Cup 2024. Jamil is a former India international with 15 caps to his name. A midfielder, he made his debut in the 1997 SAFF Championship in Nepal, where India emerged champions. He was part of the Indian squads for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the 2001 Merdeka Tournament.
