The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has terminated the contract of Igor Stimac, the Croatian head coach of the Indian national football team, following a series of underwhelming performances. This decision marks the end of Stimac’s five-year tenure, which saw mixed results and ultimately failed to meet key objectives.
Under Stimac, India played 53 matches, securing 19 wins, 14 draws, and suffering 20 losses. The team scored 71 goals but conceded 76, resulting in a win record of just 35.8%. Despite these statistics, the defining moment came with the recent AFC Asian Cup campaign and the unsuccessful bid to advance to the third round of the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
India’s FIFA ranking during Stimac’s tenure saw minimal improvement, moving from 101 after the 2019 AFC Asian Cup to 99 in 2023, before plummeting to 121. The AIFF expressed gratitude for Stimac’s services but decided that a change was necessary to rejuvenate the team and its prospects.
AIFF’s statement on the termination
“A notice of termination has been issued to Mr. Stimac by the AIFF Secretariat, and he stands relieved of his obligations with immediate effect. The AIFF thanks Mr. Stimac for his service to the National Team and wishes him well in his future endeavours,” stated the AIFF.
The team’s performance in the World Cup qualifiers was particularly disappointing. Initially, hopes were high after a win against Kuwait on the road. However, this was followed by two lackluster games against Afghanistan, where India managed only one point out of a possible six. A home draw against Kuwait and a road loss to Qatar sealed India’s fate, leaving them with just five points and a third-place finish in their group.
Stimac’s views on the way forward
Stimac had boldly claimed that he would resign if he failed to lead India to the third round of the qualifiers. “If I don’t take India to the third round, I will leave, with my pride, with my honour on everything that was done here in the five years of work. I will leave my position to someone else,” he declared. Unfortunately, the results did not match his ambitions.
Adding to the discontent was the team’s performance at the Hangzhou Asian Games. With a young, inexperienced squad led by veterans Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan, India suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to China, drew 1-1 with Myanmar, and narrowly beat Bangladesh 1-0. They exited the tournament after a 2-0 loss to Saudi Arabia.
The AFC Asian Cup 2023 further highlighted the team’s struggles. Placed in a tough group with Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria, India failed to secure any points, conceding six goals across three matches. Stimac had requested a one-month training camp before the tournament, but his request was not fully granted. Frustrated, he shifted his focus to the World Cup qualifiers, which also ended in disappointment.
Despite these setbacks, Stimac remained optimistic about the progress made under his leadership. However, as India’s campaign ended with a controversial goal in a loss to Qatar, his usual vocal protests were replaced with a subdued acknowledgement of the superior facilities and support in Qatar, hinting at his interest in possibly coaching there in the future.
Stimac’s tenure with the Indian national team has come to an end, and the AIFF now faces the challenge of finding a new coach who can bring stability and success to the team. The road ahead is uncertain, but with fresh leadership, there is hope for a brighter future in Indian football.