We are not particularly looking for big names to appoint next coach, says AIFF official

Indian football fans were left heartbroken as their beloved team led by Sunil Chhetri were knocked out of the 2019 edition of the AFC Asian Cup which was held in the UAE. The stoppage time loss against Bahrain in the final group stage match was followed by the resignation of head coach - Stephen Constantine.

As per reports in TOI, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) will start the process of shortlisting coaches for the post of the head coach next week but will not necessarily look to appoint a ‘big name’ to replace Constantine.

"We are not particularly looking at big names. What we need is the right person to take Indian football forward. There are coaches who have a big profile, but will they be the right choice for India? Can we afford their salaries, and will they be motivated enough to work here. Some are coaching school teams at the moment and believe they can coach the national team," a senior AIFF official told TOI.

Several reports have mentioned names like France's World Cup coach Raymond Domenech as well as former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson. Former Premier League coach Sam Allardyce, who was also England coach for some time, are rumoured to have applied to replace Stephen Constantine.

Former Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca is considered to be AIFF’s first preference as the next head coach with some senior AIFF officials clearly pledging their support to the Spanish coach. Roca left Bengaluru last season after helping them win the Federation Cup (2017), Super Cup (2018) and a final appearance at the AFC Cup. In his two seasons at Bengaluru, Roca had an impressive win ratio of over 60 per cent.