Nearly a year after his departure, former Indian men’s football team head coach Igor Stimac has opened up about two major solutions he believed could have significantly improved the sport’s growth in the country. The Croatian coach, who was dismissed in June 2024 following India’s poor FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying campaign, shared his insights in an interview with RevSportz.
Stimac, who took charge in 2019 after Stephen Constantine, had a turbulent five-year tenure marked by controversies, including allegations of using an astrologer for team selection. Despite the mixed results, he highlighted two key strategies that were discussed even before his appointment to elevate Indian football.
Inclusion of Indian-Origin Players Abroad
Stimac revealed that the idea of recruiting foreign-based players of Indian descent was not new and had been proposed during Bob Houghton’s coaching stint (2006-2011). He emphasized that this could serve as a “shortcut” to strengthening the national team.
“We found only two solutions. The first was involving foreign-based players in the process, convincing Indian sports authorities that the law needs to be changed if we want a successful national team,” Stimac said.
Currently, Indian football regulations restrict the selection of overseas players unless they hold an Indian passport, limiting the pool of talent. Stimac argued that modifying these rules could bring in higher-quality players with Indian heritage, boosting competitiveness.
More Time for National Team Preparation
The second proposal focused on restructuring the Indian Super League (ISL) schedule to allow more time for national team camps. Stimac stressed the need for better coordination between the ISL organizers (FSDL) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to prioritize international success.
“The second solution was getting more time to work with the national team, which meant convincing FSDL to adapt the ISL calendar in favor of the national team’s success,” he explained.
Unsuccessful Persuasion
Despite pushing for these changes, Stimac admitted that neither proposal gained traction with decision-makers. “Obviously, we were not successful in convincing them of what needed to be done,” he said, suggesting that bureaucratic hurdles hindered progress.
Legacy and Future of Indian Football
Stimac’s tenure saw India win the Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship in 2023 but also witnessed struggles in World Cup qualifiers. His revelations highlight long-standing structural challenges in Indian football, lack of talent integration and insufficient national team preparation time.
As India looks to revive its footballing ambitions, Stimac’s proposals could reignite debates on policy reforms and league scheduling to align with international standards. Whether authorities reconsider these strategies remains to be seen.
Former India Coach Igor Stimac Reveals Key Proposals to Boost Indian Football
