Igor Stimac blasts AIFF in fiery farewell, Questions future of Indian Football

Igor Stimac, the recently sacked head coach of the Indian national football team, isn’t leaving quietly. Following a string of disappointing results, Stimac was dismissed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). However, Stimac maintains he was planning to resign anyway, and has launched a scathing attack on the AIFF leadership and the state of Indian football.

Stimac’s frustrations stemmed from a period of underwhelming performances, culminating in India’s disastrous showing at the AFC Asian Cup (no goals scored, no points earned) and their failure to qualify for the next stage of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite this, Stimac claims he had already decided to step down: “I had informed some senior players that I have decided to leave, even if India qualified, since it was impossible to work without proper support, just listening to lies,” he stated during a lengthy online press conference.

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His criticism went beyond results, targeting specific AIFF officials. President Kalyan Chaubey was in Stimac’s sights: “Sooner he leaves, Indian football stands a chance,” he declared. Igor Stimac wasn’t shy about criticizing other senior figures either, accusing vice president NA Haris of lacking seriousness and questioning the qualifications of secretary general M Satyanarayan for proposing a tournament during pre-season. Even Indian football legend IM Vijayan wasn’t spared, with Stimac suggesting he wasn’t the right fit for his technical committee role.

The Indian Super League (ISL), India’s top division, also came under fire. Stimac raised doubts about the AIFF’s contract with the FSDL, the body that runs the ISL, suggesting a corporate business model wasn’t ideal for the league’s growth.

Stimac’s dismissal came just a day after he informed the AIFF about potential job offers and requested time to resign. “I told [AIFF secretary general] Satya I am negotiating with two parties for jobs in the future, so until the end of the month, I will accept one of the offers and you won’t have to pay more than one [month’s] salary. The next day I received the termination letter on email. I could not believe it. This happened only half a day after telling him to be patient and not get influenced with social media,” Stimac recounted.

Igor Stimac: "India is the only place in the world where football is not growing." pic.twitter.com/qHnjpQofK6

— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) June 21, 2024

Despite the negativity surrounding his departure, Igor Stimac did achieve some success during his five-year tenure. He took over the team in 2019 and, while they ultimately fell short of qualifying for the World Cup, India did play a more attractive style of football under his guidance. They even managed to win a record three trophies in 2023. “I came here with open arms, but your football is imprisoned,” Stimac lamented. He believes that allowing Players of Indian Origin (PIO) to represent India is crucial for long-term progress, but achieving that change will be a slow process.

The AIFF has begun searching for Stimac’s replacement, receiving 45 applications on the first day. However, Stimac doubts a big-name coach will be interested, given the recent controversies. “The new coach will know immediately [what awaits him],” he said. “[They] cannot get a big-name coach. Everyone knows what kind of things we deal with in Indian football.” He predicts the next coach may simply be someone desperate for a job, unlikely to bring significant success.

Looking back, Stimac admits he might have done things differently. “I shouldn’t have trusted these people,” he said, referring to the AIFF leadership. He believes resigning after winning his third trophy last year might have been the better option. Despite the acrimonious ending, Stimac remains proud of the football his team played: “We did our best to be honest,” he concluded. “The football we played, I will repeat myself, I’m very proud of.”

Only time will tell how Indian football will move forward after this tumultuous period. Stimac’s criticisms have undoubtedly cast a shadow, and the AIFF faces a significant challenge in finding a suitable replacement and fostering a more positive environment for the national team.

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