Not just Xavi, Pep Guardiola too: AIFF’s Open Call for Head Coach Embarasses Indian Football
Synopsis
AIFF’s open call for head coach turns embarrassing as fake applications under Xavi and Pep’s names surface, sparking backlash and social media jokes.
New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has clarified that they had received applications from not just Xavi Hernandez, but Pep Guardiola as well. However, these were found to be fake. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine, a statement read.
Times of India had reported that Xavi, legendary Spanish midfielder and former FC Barcelona manager, was one of the applicants interested to manage the team after Manolo Marquez's resignation. However, it was also reported that Xavi's application lacked basic information like a contact phone number, making it difficult for the committee to verify or engage further. The incident had garnered major attention, with AIFF drawing criticisms for not pursuing Xavi. Football Pundits, including the likes of Fabrizio Romano, took to X sharing the news and deleting it later. He also posted a fact-check of the claim.
How an Open Email Invite Turned Into a Global Joke
“Let’s use some common sense,” said sports journalist Ashish Negi. “If Xavi wanted the India job, his agent would’ve called, not waited for a public job post. He even turned down a $15M offer from Qatar with massive perks. Meanwhile, AIFF shared an open email for applications like it’s a startup hire, and their HR setup reportedly lacks even a qualified professional to run proper background checks.”
AIFF pulled off a first-of-its-kind spectacle, advertising the national team’s head coach job on social media like a walk-in interview. They set July 13 as the deadline for interested applicants, and said at least 10 years of experience and "cultural sensitivity" among other qualifications was mandatory. The new head coach’s main mandate was to deliver the highest possible number of victories across all tournaments and fixtures the national team competes in. The coach had to report directly to the AIFF Secretary General and the Technical Committee, while coordinating closely with the National Team Department, the National Team Director, and the Technical Director. Additionally, the role requires maintaining a strong professional rapport with the AIFF leadership, including the President, Secretary General, Technical Director, media teams, and other key administrative staff.
Social media users threw jibes at the federation for the absurdity. “It wasn’t Xavi who applied to coach India. It was a 19-year-old who used a fake email ID. I spoke to him and he showed me a screen recording from his Sent folder. Yes, this might’ve been the email AIFF thought came from Xavi. Indian football deserves better,” wrote Naman Suri.
Meanwhile, AIFF said its technical committee had reviewed 10 candidates from a list of 170 applications, and three potential coaches were shortlisted. IM Vijayan, Chairperson of the Technical Committee, said, “Given the immediate needs of the national team, it is advisable to recommend three coaches from the shortlisted pool for final consideration. Other prominent applicants, many of whom are highly qualified international coaches, will be taken into account for long-term strategic roles in the future.”
Reports suggest that the list of interested candidates includes ex-India coach Stephen Constantine, former Liverpool forward Harry Kewell, ex-Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean, ISL veterans Khalid Jamil, Kibu Vicuna, and Eelco Schattorie, along with former Slovakia and Kyrgyzstan boss Stefan Tarkovic.
“The AIFF Technical Committee reiterates its commitment to the sustained growth of Indian football and assures that every decision taken aligns with the broader vision of national team development and international competitiveness,” the statement added.