Jamil was the unanimous choice from among a shortlisted group that comprised former India coach Stephen Constantine and former manager of the Slovakia national team, Stefan Tarkovic. ( Image: X/IFTWC-Indian Football)
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday announced Khalid Jamil as the new Indian men's football team head coach. Jamil's appointment is the result of an extensive selection process conducted by the federation in February. He replaces Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who left the national team after a series of disappointing results.
"The AIFF Executive Committee, with the Technical Committee present, has sanctioned the appointment of Khalid Jamil as the new Senior India Men's National Team head coach," the AIFF said in a post on X.
With this appointment, Jamil becomes the first Indian to lead the senior national side in over a decade. The last Indian to serve in the role was Savio Medeira, who held the position from 2011 to 2012. Jamil’s appointment marks a significant moment in Indian football, which has seen foreign coaches dominate the position in recent years.
Jamil was the unanimous choice from among a shortlisted group that comprised former India coach Stephen Constantine and former manager of the Slovakia national team, Stefan Tarkovic. His name was put forward by the AIFF's Technical Committee, led by Indian legend IM Vijayan. The federation approved his selection after scrutiny.
Jamil's first task as chief coach will be the CAFA Nations Cup, which will kick off on August 29 in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Jamil brings a wealth of homegrown experience to the national team. Most recently, he served as the head coach of Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League (ISL), leading the club to a fifth-place position during the 2024–25 season. Significantly, he is still the only Indian head coach to qualify with a team for the ISL playoffs, something he did with NorthEast United in the 2020–21 campaign.
His coaching career started in 2009 with Mumbai Football Club, serving six years there before moving to Aizawl FC in the I-League. Jamil guided Aizawl FC to heights as they set the stage for their record-breaking title run the next season. Jamil has also managed both Kolkata's big two football clubs, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, making him respected throughout Indian footballing circles.
Before turning coach, Jamil played for the Indian national team as a midfielder in 40 games. Jamil was born in Kuwait to Indian Punjabi parents. After his U-14 days, he shifted to India and started his professional playing career at Mahindra United. The majority of his 12-year playing career was with the club, where he became a sure bet in the midfield.
One of Jamil's earliest and most pressing tasks will be to resuscitate India's AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification campaign. The team is at the bottom of Group C in the third round of qualifiers, having collected one draw and a defeat in their initial matches.
India will face four additional games in the qualification stage, two against Singapore and one against Hong Kong and Bangladesh. Only the group leaders will advance to the AFC Asian Cup, which will be hosted in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
Jamil's appointment has presented hope for a change in fortune for the team as Indian football seeks to ensure its presence on the continental scene. Attention now shifts to August, when the country will see its maiden appearance as head coach in the CAFA Nations Cup.
