NEW DELHI: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday confirmed that Khalid Jamil has been appointed as the full-time head coach of the senior men’s national team on a two-year contract, with an option to extend for one more year based on performance.
Jamil signed the deal after parting ways with Indian Super League (ISL) side Jamshedpur FC. His first training camp with the Blue Tigers will begin on August 15 at the Dravid-Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru.
The 48-year-old’s first assignment will be the CAFA Nations Cup, where India will face Group B opponents Tajikistan (August 29), Iran (September 1), and Afghanistan (September 4). In the October FIFA window, India will take on Singapore in two crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers on October 9 and 14.
Expressing his excitement, Jamil said:
“I am both deeply proud and immensely privileged to be entrusted with the responsibility of leading our national team. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with Indian players, gaining a deep understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. These insights will be crucial as we prepare for the CAFA Nations Cup and the vital Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore.”
Jamil replaces Manolo Marquez, whose contract was terminated by the AIFF last month. He becomes the first Indian to coach the men’s national team since Savio Medeira in 2012.
An experienced tactician, Jamil has managed multiple ISL and I-League clubs, including Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, Aizawl FC, East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan AC, and Mumbai FC. His most notable achievement came in 2016–17 when he guided Aizawl FC to a historic I-League title.
In his latest stint with Jamshedpur FC, he led the Red Miners to the final of the Super Cup 2025 and the semi-finals of both the ISL 2024–25 play-offs and the Super Cup 2024.
As a player, Jamil earned 15 caps for India, debuting in the 1997 SAFF Championship in Nepal, which India won. He represented the national team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and the 2001 Merdeka Tournament.
At club level, he enjoyed success with Mahindra United, winning the National Football League, two Federation Cups, and two IFA Shields, and also played for Air India and Mumbai FC. In the Santosh Trophy, he represented Maharashtra, winning the title in 1999.
