In an expected move, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed Khalid Jamil as the head coach of the Indian senior men’s national team.
Jamil becomes the first Indian coach to take charge of the national side in 13 years, the last being Savio Madeira in 2012.
The appointment, ratified by the AIFF executive committee, follows the recommendation of the federation’s technical committee, chaired by former Indian striker IM Vijayan. Jamil was selected from a pool of high-profile candidates, including ex-India coach Stephen Constantine and Slovakian tactician Stefan Tarkovic.
Jamil, a former India international midfielder, is widely respected for his work across Indian football. His crowning achievement came in 2017 when he led underdog Aizawl FC to a historic I-League title — a feat still remembered as one of Indian football’s greatest underdog stories.
Jamil has since coached prominent clubs including Mumbai FC, East Bengal, North East United, and Jamshedpur FC.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey noted, “We trust in Khalid’s ability to bring stability, character, and a fresh footballing vision to our national setup.”
Jamil takes over with important assignments on the horizon, including the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers and preparations for the AFC Asian Cup 2027.
