From underdog to the top: How Khalid Jamil became the first Indian in 13 years to coach the national football team

Economic Times

2 days ago

Agencies Khalid Jamil will become first Indian full-time coach of Blue Tigers since Sukhvinder Singh in 2005
Khalid Jamil, one of Indian football's most compelling managerial figures, has been appointed head coach of the Indian men's national team — becoming the first Indian to hold the position in over a decade.
His appointment, confirmed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday, marks a pivotal shift in the federation's approach after years of foreign hires failed to lift the national side to greater heights.
The last Indian to serve as national coach was Savio Medeira, whose brief stint ended in 2012. Since then, the AIFF has turned repeatedly to overseas names, hoping to inject technical flair and tactical discipline into the side — with mixed results. Jamil's appointment, therefore, is not just a nod to his impressive domestic record but a significant vote of confidence in homegrown coaching.
The 48-year-old Jamil was chosen from a shortlist that included former India coach Stephen Constantine and Slovakian manager Stefan Tarkovic. The selection was finalised by the AIFF's Technical Committee, chaired by former India goalkeeper Subrata Pal, and ratified by the Executive Committee on August 1. Jamil replaces Spaniard Manolo Marquez, whose tenure saw little success and ended last month. With India languishing in form and identity, Jamil steps into one of the most scrutinised jobs in Indian sport.
But if there's anyone who thrives under pressure, it's Khalid Jamil.Jamil may not have coached internationally, but few Indian managers command the kind of grassroots respect he does. A former India international himself, Jamil first made headlines as coach of Aizawl FC, the modest club from Mizoram that scripted one of Indian football's greatest underdog stories.In the 2016–17 I-League season, Jamil led Aizawl — who had narrowly avoided relegation the previous year — to an astonishing title triumph, outpacing the likes of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. The fairy-tale run earned comparisons to Leicester City's Premier League win and etched Aizawl's name in Indian football history as the first team from the Northeast to win a national title.The achievement stood in stark contrast to the fate of Mumbai FC, Jamil's former club, who were relegated that same season and eventually disbanded.Born in Kuwait, Jamil has lived and breathed Indian football across decades. He won the National Football League (India's top division at the time) as a player with Mahindra United in 2005 and later lifted the I-League trophy as a coach with Aizawl — a rare double in Indian football history.He began his coaching journey in 2009 with Mumbai FC, where he operated on shoestring budgets but consistently kept the club in the top flight. Over the years, he has taken the helm at several clubs — East Bengal, NorthEast United, and most recently, Jamshedpur FC — all while building a reputation for tactical pragmatism, emotional intelligence, and an ability to extract the best from limited squads.His most recent success came with Jamshedpur FC. Taking over midway through the 2023–24 season, Jamil led the side to the ISL semifinals, a Super Cup final appearance, and earned an unbeaten start to the ongoing Durand Cup. That run secured him a two-year contract extension — a rare show of faith in an Indian manager in the ISL era.While critics may point to his lack of international experience, Jamil's domestic credentials are difficult to ignore. He holds an AFC Pro Licence and has managed teams across all rungs of Indian football — from I-League 2 to the Indian Super League.With Indian football now at an inflection point, struggling to regain its footing on the Asian stage, the AIFF's decision to back a homegrown tactician signals a possible philosophical shift — one that values continuity, cultural familiarity, and a deeper connection to the domestic footballing ecosystem.For Jamil, the challenge is clear: rebuild belief in the national setup and craft a team that can compete with the continent's best. For Indian football, the message is louder — the future may just lie in trusting its own.