Former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell have thrown their hats into the ring for the India national football team head coach position. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) recently closed applications for the top job, receiving 170 entries a notable drop from last year’s 291. The search for a new coach began after Manolo Marquez stepped down on July 2, prompting the AIFF to open the application process two days later.
Fowler, Kewell apply for coaching job of Indian Men's Football team
According to Times Of India report, AIFF hasn’t officially released the list of applicants, sources confirm that both Fowler and Kewell are among the prominent names seeking to take charge of the Blue Tigers. Fowler, who has had managerial stints with Brisbane Roar and East Bengal, and Kewell, who has managed several clubs in the lower tiers of English football, bring international pedigree and high-profile appeal.
Also in contention are several seasoned tacticians including Caio Zanardie, the former Brazil U-17 coach, and Jordi Vinyals, who previously managed Barcelona B and more recently Zhejiang Professional in China.
Familiar faces in contention
The list also features former India coach Stephen Constantine, who remains the longest-serving manager in terms of matches (73) with the national team. He is joined by former Tajikistan and Maldives boss Peter Segrt, who has considerable experience in Asian football.
From the Indian Super League, Spanish tacticians Antonio Lopez Habas and Sergio Lobera both league title winners have also shown interest. Their deep understanding of Indian football could give them an edge.
Who are the home grown coaches who applied for the job?
On the domestic front, the likes of Khalid Jamil, Sanjoy Sen, and Santosh Kashyap are among the top Indian contenders. All three have coached at the highest levels of Indian football and are considered respected figures in the national setup.
With the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers on the horizon, the federation is keen to appoint a coach capable of revitalizing the national team’s prospects .
