The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed FC Goa head coach Manolo Marquez as the new head coach of the senior men’s national team for the next three years. The decision was made following a meeting of the federation’s executive committee, which was tasked with finding a suitable replacement for Igor Stimac, whose contract was terminated after India’s failure to qualify for the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.
Marquez was selected from a pool of 20 shortlisted candidates, ultimately chosen for his understanding of the Indian football environment. The Spanish coach has a proven track record in the Indian Super League (ISL), having led Hyderabad FC to the title in 2022 while simultaneously playing a significant role in the development of Indian players, many of whom now feature in the national squad.
Given the federation’s current financial constraints, the executive committee entrusted its president, Kalyan Chaubey, with the responsibility of negotiating Marquez’s salary. Interestingly, the AIFF has also agreed to allow Marquez to continue coaching FC Goa until the end of the 2025 season. This decision, although potentially controversial, has been justified by the AIFF president, who emphasizes their commitment to achieving the best possible results for both the national team and FC Goa.
Another notable candidate for the national team coaching position was Antonio Lopez Habas, a three-time ISL winning coach. However, Habas reportedly withdrew from consideration due to health concerns.
In a significant development, the AIFF executive committee has decided to postpone the relegation process in the Indian Super League for another season. This decision, which contradicts the roadmap presented to the Asian Football Confederation, has drawn criticism from the I-League Clubs Association. The association has threatened legal action if the AIFF does not adhere to the original roadmap, which outlined the implementation of relegation starting in the 2024-25 season.
In other administrative developments, Anilkumar Prabhakaran, secretary of the Kerala Football Association, has been appointed as the new secretary general of the AIFF. This appointment effectively sees the acting general secretary, M. Satyanarayan, revert to his previous role as assistant secretary.
