MUMBAI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced Monday that the men’s national team head coach Stephen Constantine has resigned following India’s 0-1 loss to Bahrain in the last AFC Asian Cup 2019 group game in Sharjah, due to which the team failed to qualify for the knockouin wake of t rounds.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das stated the following on the federation’s official Twitter handle, confirming the development:
‘Mr. @StephenConstan has announced his resignation as the Head Coach of the Indian National Team. We haven’t received any official communication from him yet but we accept his decision & thank him for his contribution to #Indianfootball’
The Englishman took up Indian football’s top job in 2015 for another stint after his first coaching spell from 2002-2005. The biggest highlight of his second tenure was guiding India to the qualification in the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 2011.
The team responded with their first win in the tournament after 55 years when they defeated Thailand 4-1. Under Constantine, India also managed to break into the top 100 of the FIFA World Rankings for the first time ever, ranked 97th at present from 173rd before he joined in.
“I have been here for four years. My objective from day one was to qualify for the Asian Cup and we have done that.
“I am exceptionally proud of the players for everything that they have given. I thank the All India Football Federation (AIFF), Kushal Das, Praful Patel and Abhishek Yadav for the support that they have given me.
“I think my cycle is finished. I did what I was asked. It is time for me to move on.” Constantine was quoted as saying in a post-match press conference.
Indian captain Sunil Chhetri acknowledged the Englishman’s contribution to football in the country while expressing shock at the development.
“We didn’t know before the game. He spoke to us and told it in the press conference. He did really well for the country. If you see the records, the number of boys he has given chances. I just want to thank him from me and the whole boys for doing a great job and just hope wherever he goes, wish him all the luck,” the 34-year-old was quoted as saying to Goal.com.
