The All India Football Federation of India on Wednesday appointed Croatian World Cupper Igor Stimac as the head coach of the Indian football team for a two-year term.
He will succeed Stephen Constantine who was at the helm for nearly five years and departed in January, following the creditable show at the AFC Asian Cup.
The 51-year-old Stimac had 18-years of experience as a coach, scout, and manager and his previous assignment were with Al-Shahania Club in Qatar. He was also part of the Croatian team which finished third in the 1998 Fifa World Cup and also reached the UEFA European Championship quarterfinals in 1996.
“His credentials as a coach and experience as a player are sure to add immense value to the players and the Indian Football ecosystem. The momentum gained needs to be sustained”, Kushal Das, AIFF General Secretary commented on the new appointment.
Welcoming the new coach AIFF President Praful Patel said,” Igor is the right candidate to coach the Blue Tigers. I welcome him on board. Indian football is going through a transition and I am confident that his vast experience will guide us to higher echelons.”
