Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) will initiate talks with Igor Stimac about mutually parting ways but that is unlikely to happen without compensation being paid to the national team coach who’s been at the helm of affairs for more than five years.
Stimac has a contract till June 2026 that fetches him approximately Rs 25 lakh on a monthly basis, and even though he had told a special AIFF committee that he would part ways if India does not make it to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Croatian is unlikely to quit.
After India’s 2-1 loss against Qatar, Stimac told players that he will remain head coach of the national team.
“Stimac knows that it’s difficult for him (to continue) after the results in the second round of the qualifiers but he does not want to take the entire blame,” a source told TOI. “He feels the AIFF didn’t do enough to support him and did not deliver on the promises that were made.”
According to another source, the Croatian coach feels dubious refereeing decisions also held India back with references to the Qatar equaliser, goal denied against Malaysia in Merdeka and a dubious penalty awarded to Iraq in the King’s Cup.
Within the AIFF, and its technical committee, there is no doubt that India must start looking for a new coach. An Indian taking over on a full-time basis has been ruled out. Should AIFF part ways with Stimac closer to any tournament – tri-nation in September and Merdeka in October – assistant coach Mahesh Gawli is being talked about as a stop-gap replacement.
“Stimac’s contract situation is the biggest stumbling block,” a senior AIFF official told TOI on Thursday. “If the new contract had the same termination clauses like the previous one, we could have simply paid three months’ salary and parted ways. Now it’s much more difficult. We will have to sit across the table and find a solution.”
The AIFF is planning to initiate discussions with Stimac next week and tell him that he is free to look for a new job.
The committee constituted by AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey to hold discussions with Stimac in April will also be tasked with holding talks to find an amicable solution.
Meanwhile, the AIFF technical committee will meet on Friday morning to discuss appointment of head of coach education, finalise the under-13 youth competition format and the coaching license criteria for youth competition. Stimac is not part of the agenda.
Stimac has a contract till June 2026 that fetches him approximately Rs 25 lakh on a monthly basis, and even though he had told a special AIFF committee that he would part ways if India does not make it to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Croatian is unlikely to quit.
After India’s 2-1 loss against Qatar, Stimac told players that he will remain head coach of the national team.
“Stimac knows that it’s difficult for him (to continue) after the results in the second round of the qualifiers but he does not want to take the entire blame,” a source told TOI. “He feels the AIFF didn’t do enough to support him and did not deliver on the promises that were made.”
According to another source, the Croatian coach feels dubious refereeing decisions also held India back with references to the Qatar equaliser, goal denied against Malaysia in Merdeka and a dubious penalty awarded to Iraq in the King’s Cup.
Within the AIFF, and its technical committee, there is no doubt that India must start looking for a new coach. An Indian taking over on a full-time basis has been ruled out. Should AIFF part ways with Stimac closer to any tournament – tri-nation in September and Merdeka in October – assistant coach Mahesh Gawli is being talked about as a stop-gap replacement.
“Stimac’s contract situation is the biggest stumbling block,” a senior AIFF official told TOI on Thursday. “If the new contract had the same termination clauses like the previous one, we could have simply paid three months’ salary and parted ways. Now it’s much more difficult. We will have to sit across the table and find a solution.”
The AIFF is planning to initiate discussions with Stimac next week and tell him that he is free to look for a new job.
The committee constituted by AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey to hold discussions with Stimac in April will also be tasked with holding talks to find an amicable solution.
Meanwhile, the AIFF technical committee will meet on Friday morning to discuss appointment of head of coach education, finalise the under-13 youth competition format and the coaching license criteria for youth competition. Stimac is not part of the agenda.
