Spain’s World Cup-winning mid-field famous person Xavi Hernandez was amongst those that utilized for the place of India’s head coach, leaving the All Indian Football Federation (AIFF) pleasantly stunned but additionally unable to course of his application for causes which had nothing to do with the sport.
Xavi, it’s learnt, “sent an email from his own account” to apply for the put up.
However, the AIFF couldn’t go forward with the processing of his application as the prices concerned in recruiting one of many world’s most interesting mid-fielders was manner past the federation’s means.
“Yes, he (Xavi) applied for the job of the Indian senior men’s team football head coach. He has himself mailed his application to the people in the technical committee, and it looks like he was very much interested in the job,” a supply within the AIFF instructed PTI on Friday (July 25, 2025).
“However, those tasked with the responsibility of recommending the short-list of coaches to the executive committee for final approval federation know that it’s difficult.
“You perceive that Xavi is likely one of the biggest mid-fielders of all time, folks speak about Messi on a regular basis but he together with (Andres) Iniesta are proper up there so far as Barcelona is anxious. So, sure, it’s what it’s,” he added.
The experienced Anglo-Cypriot Stephen Constantine, Stefan Tarkovic of Slovakia and home-bred Khalid Jamil were among three candidates shortlisted on Wednesday (July 23, 2025) by the technical committee of the AIFF.
Out of the three, Jamil appears to be the frontrunner to replace Manolo Marquez, who quit earlier this month after a string of poor performances by the national team. The side’s FIFA ranking has plummeted to 133, which is its lowest in nine years.
The AIFF had invited applications for the top job on July 4 with July 13 as the deadline. It received 170 applications, which included big names like former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell.
Before Xavi, Fowler and Kewell had thrown their hats into the ring for the position.
Besides the World Cup triumph with Spain in 2010 and Euro title victories in 2008 and 2012, the 45-year-old Xavi has won five La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and three UEFA Champions League trophies with FC Barcelona, including two continental trebles in 2008-09 and 2014-15.
A product of the famed La Masia like his longtime illustrious FCB teammate Messi, Xavi’s last coaching job was at FC Barcelona, where he was in charge from 2021 to 2024.
Before that, the maestro was managing Qatari club Al Sadd from 2019-21.
After his glorious 24-year stint at Barcelona, Xavi had also played for Al Sadd before being appointed the team’s manager.
He left Barcelona as a player in 2015 for Al Asadd, where he also won four trophies before retiring in 2019.
As Barcelona manager, he led them to the 2023 Supercopa de Espana and the 2022-23 La Liga tile.
