In 2025, after Indian football sometimes feels like watching the glitchy game-one moment of promise, three confusion, and eternal waiting for an update of a patch that never comes. The national team of men in the FIFA ranking slipped to 132, the head coach came out of the middle of the cycle and the Indian Super League was suddenly suspended. It is a storyline from the sports drama, but with any of the triumphant comebacks.
Manolo Marquez was supposed to be a “guy”. It was brought with the idea of leading another major reconstruction with the AIFF “Vision 2047” as a background. Instead, six games and one victory later, left without his players and left behind more questions than answers.
What was supposed to be a structured long -term plan was again left in the short term. But hey, if the plan to become a top Asian football nation in 22 years, maybe we should start with the fact that they will get within 22 months without chaos.
Meanwhile, there is a growing vibration shift. Fans are no longer just frustrated-they are logged in. Club football is confusing in Limbo and the only subtitles of the national team have recently concerned the losses and exits of coaching. Given that the Isl, which is currently on a break and an uncertain plan of the map, there is a growing feeling that Indian football is stuck in a pattern of possession and waits for clarity that will never come.
But even in this beautiful mess, there is one big decision: Who is in charge of?
Whether it is a seasoned name from Indian football or an external tactic with fresh ideas, this call can well define the Vision 2047. Therefore, the next appointment of the head coach. Whether it is a seasoned Isl tactic or a complete curveball from overseas, this decision is not just about survival of Indian football and here are some of our tips for the role:
Khalid Jamil: The choice of people?
There’s something poetic that Khalid Jamil is back in counting. Jamil knows how to work with budgets of bones and high -pressure situations, the first Indian head coach to take the Isl team (Northeast United, no less), Jamil knows how to work with budget budgets and high -pressure situations. He has a personality without nonsense, tactical gravel and proven results in Indian football. Even more importantly, it is one of the few who has not lost contact with I-League and the ecosystem at the local level-what is, let’s face it, is where the real talent fund still lives.
But would he give the aiff to the Indian coach at this point in the intersection? Historically not. But if it seriously means about the structure and sustainability, Jamil is not the worst place to start.
Antonio Lopez Habas: The Redemption of the Arch
Habas reportedly asked for the work of head coach India before Manolo nodded. He didn’t make a cut, so what did he do? Instead, he joined the newly created Kashi-Won the i-League club interbut and entered Isl. That says a lot about his hunger. It already has two titles of ISL, understands the madness of Indian football, and commands immediate respect.
Habas with two titles of Isl already under his belt and deep understanding of the ecosystem of chaos in Indian football brings an old school and tournament Nous. It may not be the most interesting choice, but he’s a man who does things and right now it’s a rare quality.
Owen Coyle: Mr. Motivation, Again?
Owen Coyle was recently released Chennaiyin FC, but his record in Indian football is still difficult to ignore. From the transformation of the fighting Jamshedpur FC into the winner of the league shield in 2022 to the leadership of Chennaiyin for two performances Play -off, Coyle showed that he can build competing teams from scratch.
He has charisma, human management skills and quite a solid relationship with Indian players. But the question remains: is it tactically dynamic to lead the national project? Or is it better suited for club football, where weekly motivation works better than four years of plans?
New Face: Because why not?
Let’s be honest-when Igor Stimuc was appointed in 2019, and many Indian fans could place it over Google search. Sure, according to plan it was not exactly. However, this does not mean that the idea of a relatively unknown, but an experienced international coach should be thrown out of the window.
With the right scouting, planning and long -term support (we know that it requires a lot), the left field could spread things in a good way. Someone with the exposure of the ecosystems of Asian or African national teams who know how to work with limited resources and build structured systems from zero. It is a risk at this point, but what is not?
The manager himself will not correct everything, but if it is chosen correctly, it can become the stabilization force of Indian football desperately needs.
Or at least someone holding after more than six games.
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
21 July 2025
