Overview

• The application window closed on July 22 after opening on July 4, drawing 170 entries—a marked decrease from last year’s 291.
• Former Liverpool forwards Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell have applied to lead the Blue Tigers, bringing top-level playing experience to the role.
• International tacticians such as Caio Zanardie, former Brazil U-17 coach, and Jordi Vinyals, ex-Barcelona B manager, are also in the running.
• Domestic names like Khalid Jamil, Sanjoy Sen and Santosh Kashyap feature among homegrown applicants with Indian Super League credentials.
• The federation’s goal is to appoint a coach who can elevate India’s performance as it gears up for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.