Indian Coach Search: More names appear

The list of coaches from around the world applying for the vacant job of Indian national football team coach is growing by the day. The number of coaches having applied for the job has now crossed the 70 mark with more applications expected.

On Monday in my blog post New India coach: The search is on I had written about the coaches and what profile the AIFF is looking for. I had then named former Argentina coach José Pékerman, Dutchman Ruud Krol and Belgian Tom Saintfiet as applicants. Now more names have come out in the open.

Here a list of coaches known to have applied

- Osvaldo Ardiles (Argentina; 1978 World Cup winner, coaches around the world but no national team)
- Jordi Cruyff (the Netherlands; has played across Europe and coached in Cyprus)
- Antoine Hey (Germany; has coached national sides in Africa)
- Ruud Krol (the Netherlands; current coach of Orlando Pirates, South Africa, has coached no national team)
- Juan Manuel Lillo (Spain, has coached only in Spanish leagues)
- José Néstor Pékerman (Argentina; former Argentina coach)
- Otto Pfister (Germany, current coach of Trinidad&Tobago, has coached around the world amongst them Bangladesh)
- Tom Saintfiet (Belgium, former Namibia coach)

Another name being tossed around is that of Jose Ramon, who is said to be an assistant at Real Madrid; but I wasn't able to confirm his name.


But the AIFF is not only looking for a new national coach but also for a Technical Director, a position which is being newly created. But it hasn't called for applications formally for the post. It could be that the new national coach could double as Technical Director, if not possible then a person would be sought for the job.