Xavi snubbed for India football coach job as AIFF cites cost concerns

Dubai: Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez was among the 170 applicants who sought to become the head coach of India’s men’s football team, according to a Times of India report. However, the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) technical committee rejected the former Spanish World Cup winner’s application, citing the high cost of his services.

The technical committee has instead shortlisted three candidates: Jamshedpur FC’s Khalid Jamil, former India coach Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic, the former Slovakia national team coach. The new coach will replace Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who stepped down in June after India’s defeat to Hong Kong in a World Cup qualifier.

Stephen Constantine’s name on the shortlist has drawn a mixed response, with many fans expressing fatigue over his repeated returns. Constantine previously coached India in two stints: from 2002—2005 and 2015—2019. Under his guidance, India won the 2016 SAFF Championship and the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, and qualified for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey confirmed that the federation would call an emergency Executive Committee meeting within the next week to finalise the appointment. “Out of the 170 applicants from India and abroad, three were shortlisted,” Chaubey said. “As per our constitution, the final decision must be made by the Executive Committee.”

Several other big names were also in the fray but overlooked, including former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell, and ex-Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean. AIFF national team director and former captain Subrata Paul confirmed that Xavi had formally submitted his application via email.

A member of the technical committee told TOI that Xavi’s candidacy was dismissed primarily on financial grounds. “Even if he was genuinely interested in Indian football, we simply couldn’t afford him,” the member said. Xavi has previously acknowledged Indian football in interviews, noting the growing presence of Spanish coaches in the Indian Super League (ISL).

The decision to dismiss Xavi without serious discussion is baffling. Xavi isn’t just another applicant — he is one of football’s modern greats and a former architect of Pep Guardiola’s iconic Barcelona side, often considered among the best teams in football history. His resume includes eight La Liga titles, four Uefa Champions League trophies, a Fifa World Cup, and two Uefa European Championships.

He also won a La Liga title as Barcelona coach before stepping down in 2024. Since then, he has been without a managerial position — making his application to the India job all the more intriguing. If nothing else, his presence could have brought invaluable global attention to Indian football.

The timing of this coaching dilemma coincides with a wider crisis in Indian football. The Indian Super League — the country’s top-tier competition — is on the brink of collapse due to a dispute between the AIFF and its commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). The agreement between the two entities expires on December 8 and remains unresolved.

The uncertainty has left the upcoming ISL season in limbo, affecting over 5,000 players, coaches, and support staff. “Everybody in the Indian football ecosystem is worried, hurt, scared about the uncertainty we are faced with,” veteran striker Sunil Chhetri wrote on X.

India are currently ranked 133rd in the FIFA men’s rankings — their lowest position in nearly a decade — and have won just one of their last 16 matches. Chhetri, who came out of retirement in March at age 40, remains the team’s top scorer with 95 goals, trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Ali Daei on the all-time international scoring charts.

Despite the turmoil, Paul struck an optimistic note: “Like any growing ecosystem, Indian football will face challenges. But this is a time to pause, reflect, and refocus. The uncertainty around ISL and recent results are difficult, but I also see a silver lining — a chance to invest in youth, infrastructure, and quality coaching.”

— With inputs from agencies