The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has stated that the applications for the national team head coach position, allegedly submitted by Pep Guardiola and Xavi, are “not legitimate.”
The national team director mentioned to The Times of India on Thursday that Xavi had indeed applied but was deemed too costly to consider by AIFF’s Technical Committee.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the AIFF revealed it had reviewed 170 applications for the head coach role, identifying only three viable candidates while dismissing the submissions from Guardiola and Xavi as fraudulent.
It had not been previously disclosed that AIFF also received applications falsely claiming to be from Manchester City’s manager, Guardiola.
The AIFF clarified that emails claiming to be from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernández regarding their applications were not verified and ultimately proven to be inauthentic.
Last June, the AIFF parted ways with former Indiana Manager Igor Stimac and subsequently hired Spaniard Manolo Marquez.
This report draws on information from Reuters.
Fan Take: This situation highlights the growing global interest in Indian football, as even big names like Guardiola and Xavi generate buzz around the national team. It demonstrates the challenges faced by the AIFF in securing credible leadership, which is vital for the future development of the sport in India.
