'If Xavi agrees, he'll become next Coach' - AIFF Technical Committee's Chairman

Overview

• AIFF had claimed that Xavi Hernandez had applied to be the Indian Head Coach
• However, popular Football journalists like Fabrizio Romano and Ferran Correas denied it
• AIFF's Technical Committee Chairman, I.M. Vijayan, gave his opinion on the issue

There has been uncertainty over what has transpired between Xavi HernandezandAIFF regarding the job role of the Indian Men's Senior Team's Head Coach. In their statement, AIFF claimed that they had received an application from Xavi's email to apply for the role, but could not get him shortlisted due to a lack of funds.

However, their claim was met with refutes by popular Football Journalists like Fabrizio Romano and Ferran Correas. While the former confirmed that such a talk never took place between the two sides, the latter felt it could have been a trick played by AIFF to increase the profile of the job role.

Also Read: Fabrizio Romano claims no talks took place between Xavi Hernandez and AIFF regarding coaching job

AIFF had appointed a Technical Committee to shortlist eligible candidates to be the next Indian Head Coach. The eventual candidates for the roles turned out to be Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic. When AIFF revealed Xavi's name, the Football world was taken by surprise, especially after AIFF claimed the reason behind rejecting the offer.

"The three shortlisted candidates have experience working in India," - I.M. Vijayan

When asked about it in an interview, I.M. Vijayan, the Chairman of the Technical Committee, claimed that they would've been happy to nominate Xavi as the new Indian Head Coach if he agreed to take up the role. "If Xavi agrees, he will become the Indian football team's next head coach," Vijayan said in an interview with Manorama News.

Also Check: AIFF's statement claims to have rejected Xavi Hernandez as Indian Coach

He later revealed the reason behind shortlisting Jamil, Constantine, and Tarkovic for the role. Vijayan said all of them had the experience of working in India, and touched upon the fact that Constantine had previously been India's coach twice.

"The three shortlisted candidates have experience working in India and with Indian players. Former Indian coach Stephen Constantine is one among them. Their appointment will be short-term," Vijayan said in an interview with Manorama News.