Tribune News Service
New Delhi, Mary 9
Croatia’s Igor Stamic is set to be India’s next football coach. The All-India Football Federation (AIFF) Technical Committee, chaired by Shyam Thapa, has recommended his name to the executive committee.
The Technical Committee today conducted interviews with the four shortlisted candidates — Hakan Ericson, Albert Roca, Igor Stimac and Lee Min Sung. Only Stimac appeared in person, the other candidates were interviewed over Skype. For official purposes, the name of the recommended candidate has been forwarded to the executive committee. However, speaking with the media after the meeting, Thapa made it clear that it was Stimac who will take over the reins of the Indian team from Stephen Constantine.
“The Committee conducted detailed interviews with all the four shortlisted candidates for the post of the Indian Senior Men’s Team National Coach — Mr Hakan Ericson, Mr Albert Roca, Mr Igor Stimac, and Mr Lee Min Sung — and as per the AIFF Constitution, has sent its recommendations to the AIFF Executive Committee for a final decision,” AIFF said in an official release.
$25,000 salary
It is understood that Stimac will be offered $25,000 (including tax) as monthly remuneration. Shanmugam Venkatesh will be his deputy.
The Technical Committee — which also included newly appointed AIFF technical director Isac Doru, Henry Menezes, Prasanta Banerjee, Pradip Datta, GP Palguna and Sundar Raman — was impressed with Stimac’s views and plans about the team. What truly tilted the scale in his favour ahead of Roca — who was in contention as well — was his experience as both coach and player of the Croatia national team. AIFF general secretary Kushal Das and national team director Abhishek Yadav were also present at the meeting as ex-officio members.
Croatia of 1998
Stimac was part of the famed 1998 team — also featuring Davor Suker — which finished third in the World Cup in France. He took over the coaching duties of the national team from fellow defender Slaven Bilic. Under his charge, Croatia rose to as high as fourth in the world.
Interestingly, Raman was pitching for Roca’s appointment as he felt that the Spanish coach was ideal for the team as he had spent time in the country. Roca managed Bengaluru FC for two years. But once Thapa spoke about how Stimac’s credentials towered over the others’, the committee, including Raman, agreed on the Croat’s name.
AIFF had received over 250 applications for the vacant post. Of these, AIFF prepared two lists, one featuring 24 names and the other 17. Finally, four names were shortlisted.
Some of the members were surprised over Roca’s inclusion in the final four. These members felt that Roca — who too had a sound resume, including deputising at Barcelona — had credentials similar to many applicants who were screened out from the lists of 41.
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/2HbJytd
via Today’s News Headlines
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