Stimac named India coach for two years
Croat Igor Stimac was named India coach on Wednesday after the executive committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) ratified the recommendation of the technical committee made last week.
The 51-year-old has been given a two-year contract as head coach of the national team, according to an AIFF media release.
He replaces Stephen Constantine, who quit after the Asian Cup in January. Stimac is likely to reach New Delhi on Sunday and hold a preparatory camp before the King’s Cup in Thailand where India play Caribbean island Curacao on June 5. At 82, Curacao are 19 slots above India in the Fifa rankings.
Stimac, whose last assignment was with Al-Shahania Club in Qatar in 2017, has played a role in the development of players such as Mateo Kovacic, Ante Rebic, Alen Halilovic and Ivan Perisic when he was coach of the Croatia national team. Stimac also coached Hadjuk Split to the Croatia league title in 2004-05.
A reliable centre-back, Stimac was part of the Croatia team that finished third in the
IGOR STIMAC IS LIKELY TO REACH DELHI ON SUNDAY & HOLD A CAMP BEFORE THE KING’S CUP IN THAILAND WHERE INDIA PLAY CURACAO
1998 World Cup. Between 1990 and 2002, he played 53 internationals. He also won the under-20 World Cup with the erstwhile Yugoslavia.
“He is a World Cupper, and has guided Croatia to World Cup as a coach. Who else could have been a better candidate,” said Shyam Thapa, chairman of the AIFF technical committee.
“He also impressed us with his extensive research on Indian football.”