Igor Stimac’s experience as player will also help him quite a bit, believes Bhaichung Bhutia

After a long wait since the exit of Stephen Constantine, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has finally declared Igor Stimac to be the new chief coach of the Indian football side. The former Croatian international brings in a lot of experience both as a player and a coach at the topmost level in world football. Stimac was a part of the bronze medal-winning Croatian football team in the 1998 World Cup. His club football stints with West Ham and Hajduk Split and coaching career have been very impressive as well.

Soon after taking over the charge of the team, Stimac announced a 37-member probable squad ahead of the King’s Cup which will be held next month in Thailand. The reports are already out that the major reason for Stimac’s appointment was the knowledge that he had on the Indian players and the four-nation event King’s Cup will be the first assignment for the Croatian with the Indian team. Bhutia has asked the players and the federation to support the new coach and give him time to yield better results.  

“I do not think that the tournament will be a pressure for him. The main thing is for the players to understand his system and once he starts watching the ISL (Indian Super League) and I-League, he will begin to understand the players better. So, it is all about giving him the time to settle down.”