Kolkata : The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday, 1st August, 2025 officially announced Khalid Jamil as head coach of Indian Football team, succeeding Manolo Marquez. Jamil becomes first Indian to take charge of the position in over a decade after Savio Medeira.
The selection of Jamil came through rigorous process conducted after Marquez parted ways with Indian Football last month.
“The AIFF Executive Committee, in the presence of the Technical Committee, has approved the appointment of Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the Senior India Men’s National Team,” the AIFF wrote in a post on X.
Jamil was chosen ahead of two other contenders, former India coach Stephen Constantine and Stefan Tarkovic, ex-manager of the Slovakia national team, after being shortlisted by the AIFF’s Technical Committee, chaired by legendary striker IM Vijayan.
Jamil also has immense experience in coaching teams like East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mumbai, Bengaluru United, Aizawl, Chitwan, Jamshedpur FC, North East United. He also guided Aizawl to I-League 2016-17 win but came to limelight after guiding Jamshedpur FC to ISL playoffs and Super Cup final with limited resources. He also remains the only Indian coach to qualify for playoffs in the ISL, achieving the feat with the NorthEast United in the 2020/21 season. On individual basis, he has won Syed Abdul Rahim Best Coach (2016-17), FPAI Indian Football Awards – Coach of the year (2020-21), AIFF Men’s Coach of the year (2024-25).
He has played as a midfielder for India in 40 matches. Jamil transitioned to coaching in 2009 with a six-year stint with now-defunct Mumbai Football Club before joining Aizawl FC in the I-League.
Born in Kuwait to Indian Punjabi parents, Jamil moved to India shortly after his U-14 days and began his professional career with Mahindra United, for whom he made a majority of appearances in a 12-year playing stint.
Jamil will have his first assignment with India in CAFA Nations Cup 2025 staring from August 29, where they’ll face likes of Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan.
His biggest assignment will be AFC Asian Cup qualifier round where the side is yet to win a game in the third round of qualifying. India are at the bottom of Group C with a draw and a loss, and has four matches remaining: two against Singapore, and one each against Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
