Among the 170 applications for the job of head coach of the senior Indian football team, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had found a surprising, and obviously an exciting name. That was legendary Spanish footballer and presently the manager, Xavi Hernandez!
According to a TOI report, Xavi’s name was listed alongside that of former India head coach Stephen Constantine, former Liverpool player Harry Kewell, and India’s Khalid Jamil, among others.
According to the report, Xavi sent the application from his email address, but unlike other shortlisted applications, his contact number column was empty.
AIFF’s national team director Subrata Paul informed TOI, “It’s correct that Xavi’s name was there. The application was emailed to the AIFF.”
But Xavi’s application has reportedly already been rejected due to the high financial cost. A member of the technical committee told TOI, “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.”
In the past, Xavi had revealed in an interview that he followed Indian football due to the presence of many Spanish coaches in the Asian country.
As Barcelona head coach, he led them to the 2022-23 La Liga title. A football legend, he was known for his passing and vision. He spent most of his playing career at Barcelona and is also a La Masia product.
He played 767 official matches for the Spanish club and is famous for the midfield combination with Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. With Barcelona, he won five La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and three Champions League titles, which also consisted of two continental trebles in 2008-09 and 2014-15. He left Barcelona in 2015 for Al Asadd, where he also won four trophies before retiring in 2019. With Spain, he won the UEFA Euro in 2008 and 2013, and also the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
