New U-17 Coach search Intensifies with rumoured big names in contention

by Chittu Shetty February 20, 2017

The departure of Nicolai Adams has left the advisory committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) looking through more than 75 applications for the vacant India Under-17 coach position

After the board put out an advertisement for a new head coach of U-17 team, more than 75 applicants have come for this coveted yet challenging position. “There are a lot of interesting CVs from around the world. More time is needed,” said an AIFF official.

Although the board has been tight lipped about the names of coaches to have applied for the post, according to sources some high profile names have come forward. The names include a coach associated with Real Madrid, another successful coach from Portugal’s junior teams, while a coach with big success in the I-League (probably Ashley Westwood) was also in contention, a recommendation from AIFF’s partners Club Atletico Paranaense from Brazil has also come forward.

Former England defender and England U-21 team coach, Stuart Pearce, is another high profile name associated with the vacant India under-17 coaching position. Another familiar name on the shortlist is former AIFF technical director and Under-19 coach Colm Toal, who has 37 years of coaching experience including 7 years in India itself.

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“We have a shortlist of about seven coaches at the moment from 75 applications. We will review the applications once again on Monday and then start video calls with all these names. May be, once we have an idea of what each coach can bring to the team, we will call the final two candidates for an interview here,” said AIFF general secretary Kushal Das.

The AIFF wants to have a new coach in place before March 1 and had made it clear that coaches who are willing to take up the assignment at short notice would be preferred. At present, Indian senior team coach Stephen Constantine has been temporarily given the colts responsibilities.

With just months left for U-17 World Cup, whoever becomes the new head coach, he will be expected to have a huge task and a very short time to deliver.