Khalid Jamil Appointed as Head Coach of Indian National Football Team

Khalid Jamil, celebrated for his success with Aizawl FC, has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian national men's football team. This historic appointment marks the first Indian to lead the team in over a decade. Jamil, who currently manages Jamshedpur FC, was selected from a shortlist by the AIFF. He succeeds Manolo Marquez and will face his first challenge at the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Discover more about Jamil's journey and what this means for Indian football.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 1, 2025, 13:07 IST

Khalid Jamil Takes the Helm of Indian Football

Khalid Jamil, renowned for leading Aizawl Football Club to an unexpected I-League victory in 2017, has been appointed as the head coach of the Indian national men's football team. This marks the first time in 13 years that an Indian has taken on this prestigious role.

The 48-year-old Jamil, a former international player and currently managing Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League, was chosen by the executive committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) from a shortlist of three candidates.

The other candidates included former national coach Stephen Constantine and Stefan Tarkovic, who has previously managed the Slovakia national team.

The AIFF's Technical Committee, chaired by the legendary striker IM Vijayan, was responsible for narrowing down the candidates for the executive committee's final selection.

Jamil takes over from Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who left the AIFF last month after a series of disappointing performances from the team.

The last Indian to hold the position of head coach for the national men's team was Savio Medeira, who served from 2011 to 2012.

Jamil's inaugural task will be to lead the team in the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup, scheduled to take place in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan starting August 29.