Khalid Jamil appointed India men’s football coach, first Indian to hold post in 13 years

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday announced Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the Indian men’s national football team. The appointment was approved by the AIFF Executive Committee in the presence of the Technical Committee. Jamil becomes the first Indian in over a decade to take charge of the senior national team, succeeding Manolo Marquez, who left the position last month. The last Indian to coach the national side was Savio Medeira between 2011 and 2012.

Jamil was selected from a shortlist of three candidates—former India coach Stephen Constantine, Slovakian manager Stefan Tarkovic, and Jamil himself. The final recommendation was made by the AIFF Technical Committee, chaired by IM Vijayan. Jamil will begin his tenure with the CAFA Nations Cup, set to be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from August 29. The tournament will feature India competing against teams such as Iran and Tajikistan.

A former India international with 40 caps as a midfielder, Jamil started his coaching career in 2009 with Mumbai FC. He led the club in the top division for several seasons before moving to Aizawl FC. In the 2016–17 season, he guided Aizawl FC to the I-League title, the club’s first national title. He has also coached top-tier Indian clubs including East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, NorthEast United, and Jamshedpur FC. With NorthEast United, he became the first Indian coach to reach the ISL playoffs in the 2020–21 season.

In the 2024–25 season, Jamil coached Jamshedpur FC to a fifth-place finish in the ISL and reached the Super Cup final. He also led the team to the semifinals of the Durand Cup, which is currently ongoing. Jamil is under contract with Jamshedpur FC until 2026 and is expected to manage both roles until at least the end of the current domestic tournament.

Jamil holds an AFC Pro Licence and has coached across various levels of Indian football. He was born in Kuwait to Indian Punjabi parents and began his playing career in India with Mahindra United. The upcoming CAFA Nations Cup will be his first test as India’s head coach. The tournament allows teams to revise squads for each match, giving Jamil the chance to evaluate players ahead of India’s upcoming football calendar.