AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey has conveyed AIFF’s interest in extending the contract of Indian Football Team coach Igor Stimac. The Indian Men’s Football Team is at Asian Games 2023. The Blue Tigers have just made their way into the Round of 16 of the continental piece. Sunil Chhetri and co will now face Saudi Arabia in the knockouts.
A day after India qualified, a source stated that head coach Igor Stimac has been shortlisted to lead the Bosnia national team. Stimac is being considered for the position, according to the Bosnian website ‘Meridian Sport,’ along with 50-year-old former Serbia and Aston Villa forward Savo Milosevic. In the midst of the speculation, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey announced that Stimac will be given an extension.
“We would like to continue with Mr Stimac and have conveyed that to him. Secretary-general Shaji Prabhakaran has sent him an email saying that before the match against Myanmar on Sunday,” Chaubey told HT on Tuesday.
“The details of the extension and the terms of the contract will be finalised once he comes to New Delhi . Ahead of such a crucial match for India, we don’t want any distraction for the team or the head coach.” Chaubey added.
According to another AIFF official, Stimac has been lobbying for a new contract for some time. According to the official, his reasoning was that he needed an extension before the World Cup qualifiers in November. Otherwise, let India begin the new cycle with a new coach.
Stimac, who took over as coach in 2019, was given an extension last year until after the 2024 Asian Cup in Doha. According to the above-mentioned person, AIFF is interested in granting Stimac a two-year contract following the January 12-February 10 competition. India opens against Australia on January 13, then plays Uzbekistan on January 18 before concluding group league play against Syria on January 23.