Igor Stimac, the former coach of the Indian national football team, has bid farewell to the country after five years at the helm. While expressing gratitude to the players he coached, Stimac has been critical of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), blaming them for the team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Stimac, who was sacked following India’s loss to Qatar in the final second-round group match of the qualifiers, has accused AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey of breaching his contract multiple times. He holds Chaubey squarely responsible for the team’s failure to progress, claiming that the AIFF’s lack of support hampered the team’s efforts.
The Croat coach has also revealed that his stint in India left him with serious health problems and that he never wants to hear from the AIFF again. Despite his bitterness with the federation, Stimac has expressed his affection for the players and fans in a social media post.
“To all Indian football fans and my blue tigers, it’s been an honour to serve you over the last five years. I didn’t expect to form such a strong bond with this country and be so personally invested when I first joined you all,” Stimac wrote in his post. “I am proud of every player and team member. Together we were able to create an environment of hope and belief, we pushed each other physically and mentally to play fearless, intelligent football, which required a lot of courage and effort.”
Stimac reiterates that the AIFF must share some of the blame for the team’s failed World Cup qualifying campaign, during which they lost to a lower-ranked Afghanistan and settled for a draw against Kuwait in home matches.
“Not just me but the entire country acknowledges the type of game and character you intended to display every time you stepped on the pitch. We were very close to taking the next step but to make that happen, everyone needs to be on board. “Not only the players on the pitch and the team staff members but also the ones sitting in the offices,” he asserted.
Looking back on his tenure, Stimac highlights the positives, expressing gratitude for the memories he made with the team. He recalls the team’s resilience in overcoming challenges such as the FIFA ban, administrative hurdles, and the two-year pandemic. Despite these difficulties, the team managed to climb into the top 100 in the FIFA rankings for a period.
“We had our ups and our downs, but every one of you will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you for all the memories and a wonderful five years. Jai Hind,” he signed off.
