On August 1, 2025, Khalid Jamil was appointed head coach of the Indian men’s national football team, becoming the first Indian to hold the position since 2012.
Khalid Jamil represented India between 1998 and 2006, earning 40 international caps before retiring in 2009 due to injuries.
He was born on April 21, 1977 in Kuwait City to Punjabi parents and was introduced to football early, even attending a youth camp where he met Michel Platini.
He began his domestic football career with Mahindra United, later playing for Air India and Mumbai FC.
Jamil declined early offers from East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, citing sponsorship-related concerns.
As a coach, he led Aizawl FC to a historic I-League title in 2016–17, making them the first Northeast Indian team to win the league.
In the 2020–21 season, Jamil guided NorthEast United FC to the ISL playoffs and went on a 10-match unbeaten run, becoming the first Indian coach to do so.
He has coached top clubs like East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, NorthEast United, Bengaluru United, Jamshedpur FC, and Nepal’s Chitwan FC, gaining vast managerial experience.
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