The All India Football Federation’s recent appointment of an entirely homegrown coaching staff could not have found a more fitting vindication than Indian Football’s spirited 2–1 victory over Tajikistan in the CAFA Nations Cup.
After years of inconsistent results and over a decade of relying on foreign managers, the Blue Tigers have entered a new era under Khalid Jamil, the first Indian head coach in 13 years. Supported by trusted assistant Mahesh Gawali, goalkeeping coach Feroz Sherif, and strength and conditioning expert Manuel Dsouza, Jamil’s backroom team embodies both tactical pragmatism and local insight. Their arrival signals a recalibration in Indian football’s priorities: an embrace of domestic leadership, a commitment to youth development, and a style of play grounded in resilience and realism.
The win in Dushanbe was not merely three points; it was a symbolic start to this new chapter, one that bridges the country’s footballing past with its long-awaited aspirations for the future.
Head Coach: Khalid Jamil
Khalid Jamil’s appointment as the national team head coach is significant not just because of his credentials but also because of what he represents. Born in Kuwait to Punjabi parents, Jamil grew up in Mumbai and carved out a professional career as a midfielder. He played for Mahindra United, Air India, and Mumbai FC, amassing nearly 250 professional appearances, and earned 40 caps for India before retiring in 2009 due to persistent injuries.
His playing career was defined by hard work, tactical awareness, and a grounded, no-nonsense approach to the game, traits that he would later carry into his managerial career.
As a coach, Jamil is best remembered for guiding Aizawl FC to an improbable I-League triumph in 2016–17, a feat that elevated him into the national spotlight and demonstrated his ability to get the best out of underdog teams. His managerial stints since then have taken him through East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, NorthEast United in the Indian Super League, and most recently Jamshedpur, where he steered the club to a Super Cup final appearance in 2025.
Winning back-to-back AIFF Coach of the Year awards in 2023–24 and 2024–25 further established his reputation and made him one of the most preferred candidates to lead the national team.
What has truly distinguished Khalid Jamil so far is his pragmatic yet inspiring football philosophy. Rather than chasing over-engineered tactics, Jamil prioritises defensive solidity, discipline, and adaptability – qualities that consistently allow his sides to exceed expectations. Time and again, he has demonstrated an uncanny ability to mould limited resources into cohesive, fighting units that embody collective spirit over individual stardom.
That same touch was evident in his very first outing as India’s head coach, when a hard-fought 2–1 away victory over Tajikistan in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 ended a 652-day wait for an away win. The result was more than just three points; it was a statement of intent and a revival of belief for both fans and players. Looking ahead, Jamil is expected to oversee a carefully managed generational transition, phasing out stalwarts with dignity while giving emerging talents the platform to shine.
His unwavering creed of unity, resilience, and self-belief has the potential to become the cornerstone of a new identity for Indian football.
Assistant Coach: Mahesh Gawali
While Khalid Jamil may be the headline name, assistant coach Mahesh Gawali is entrusted with an equally important role, supporting and strengthening Jamil’s system while instilling the fundamental principles of defensive solidity and discipline within the team. A stalwart of Indian football in the 2000s, Gawali is widely regarded as one of the country’s most respected defenders. His composure, leadership qualities, and intelligent positioning at centre-back were instrumental during India’s successful spell under coach Bob Houghton, most notably in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup triumph that secured India a place in the Asian Cup.
Gawali’s continued presence in the national setup ensures both tactical and psychological continuity, providing a sense of familiarity and trust for players who are already accustomed to his methods. His expertise in defensive organization is a natural complement to Jamil’s pragmatic approach, and together they can instil a sharper, more disciplined mindset within the squad. For an Indian team seeking to build resilience and achieve sustained success, this partnership between Jamil and Gawali could prove quintessential in shaping a new era defined by structure, stability, and belief.
Goalkeeping Coach: Feroz Sherif
Another crucial member of the new coaching setup is Feroz Sherif, who takes charge as the goalkeeping coach. While goalkeepers often operate in isolation, their performances are decisive in shaping a team’s confidence and results. Beyond sharpening technical skills, Sherif’s main objective will be to prepare Indian goalkeepers to adapt to the modern demands of football, particularly distribution and building play from the back, an area where the national team has long struggled.
Historically, India has produced competent but inconsistent goalkeepers, with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu standing out as the benchmark of the last decade. As the team now looks to develop a reliable line of successors, Sherif’s challenge will be to improve not only physical technique but also the mental toughness required under pressure. His work will dovetail with the defensive philosophy laid down by Khalid Jamil and Mahesh Gawali, ensuring India builds from a position of stability.
In today’s game, where goalkeepers are expected to function as an extra outfield player, Sherif’s training methods could prove decisive in giving India the tactical flexibility needed to compete with stronger Asian opponents.
Strength & Conditioning Coach: Manuel Dsouza
In modern football, physical preparation is as important as tactical acumen, and that is where Manuel Dsouza steps in as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. His appointment underscores the AIFF’s recognition of the physical gap that often separates India from higher-ranked Asian nations. Dsouza will be responsible for designing fitness regimes, recovery programs, and injury prevention protocols tailored to the demands of international football.
Under Khalid Jamil, where high intensity and collective pressing will likely be part of the tactical blueprint, Dsouza’s role becomes indispensable. He will ensure that players can sustain energy levels for ninety minutes, recover effectively between matches, and minimize time lost due to injuries. By raising overall fitness standards, he will help the squad close the gap with regional rivals who often dominate India physically. His contribution might not be visible on the pitch immediately, but over the long term, his work will determine whether Jamil’s tactical ideas can be executed effectively.
Taken together, this coaching staff represents a refreshing new approach in Indian football’s journey over the past decade. The decision to appoint Khalid Jamil, the first Indian head coach in 13 years, carries not only strong symbolic value but also practical significance. It offers players a leader deeply invested in national success, someone who views the role as a mission rather than a mere job. Unlike foreign coaches who often need time to adapt to the unique challenges of Indian football, Jamil and his team are already familiar with the player pool, local conditions, and institutional hurdles. This familiarity could enable faster and more effective implementation of new strategies.
The absence of Sunil Chhetri from Jamil’s first squad is perhaps the clearest sign of a generational shift. While Chhetri’s experience and leadership are irreplaceable, India cannot remain dependent on one talisman forever. Jamil’s willingness to back younger forwards signals the start of a long-term rebuild, creating opportunities for emerging talents from both the Indian Super League and the I-League to establish themselves at the international level.
Tactically, India under Jamil is likely to adopt a disciplined and pragmatic approach, rather than chase an idealistic possession-heavy style. His strength has always been maximizing limited resources, and his teams are typically compact, organized, and opportunistic. With Mahesh Gawali ensuring defensive stability, Feroz Sherif refining goalkeeping fundamentals, and Manuel Dsouza raising fitness standards, the national side is likely to prioritize structure and collective strength over individual flair. This does not mean India will abandon attacking ambitions; rather, it points towards a balanced model built around counter-attacks, set pieces, and well-timed bursts of attacking play.
Equally important will be the psychological rebuild. Years of inconsistency and underwhelming results have weighed heavily on both players and supporters. The 2–1 victory over Tajikistan has already rekindled belief, but sustaining momentum will require resilience, confidence, and a stronger winning mentality. Jamil’s underdog spirit, honed during his title-winning days with Aizawl FC could be invaluable in instilling the idea that India can compete with, and even defeat, stronger Asian opponents.
The road ahead, however, is not without challenges. Performances in continental competitions will serve as the real litmus test for this project. The Asian Cup qualifiers and the longer-term World Cup campaigns mayremain daunting, but even incremental progress, improved organization, competitive results against mid-tier nations, and successful integration of young players can serve as hope for success in the short term. Over the long run, this coaching setup has the potential to be transformative, provided the AIFF offers consistent support and resists the temptation of frequent managerial changes.
