Panaji: All India Football Federation (AIFF) has sacked senior men’s team head coach Igor Stimac, ending his contract a year before its scheduled expiration. This decision follows India's early exit from the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, despite a relatively easy draw.
Stimac, who was appointed head coach in 2019, had his contract extended last October until 2026. However, the AIFF decided that a new coach is needed to move the team forward.
"Noting the disappointing outcome of the Senior Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign, the members unanimously agreed that a new Head Coach would be best placed to take the team forward," the AIFF said in a statement.
The federation has issued a notice of termination to Stimac, relieving him of his duties with immediate effect. Due to a clause in his contract, the AIFF may now have to pay Stimac nearly USD 360,000 (Rs 3 crore approximately) as a severance package, a significant amount for the financially struggling federation.
Stimac, currently in Croatia, has chosen not to comment publicly on the advice of his lawyer. "My lawyer suggested me not to speak publicly until it’s all clear," he said. "You will get an invite for my press conference once I am ready."
Stimac, known for his candidness, occasionally clashed with his employers during his five-year tenure. Despite the retirement of long-serving captain Sunil Chhetri, India had a chance to reach the third round of the World Cup Qualifiers but were eliminated after a 1-2 defeat to Qatar in their final second-round match on June 11.
The decision to remove Stimac was made at a meeting chaired by AIFF vice president NA Haris. "The meeting instructed the Acting Secretary General. Satyanarayan to notify the current Head Coach Igor Stimac of its decision to terminate his engagement," the AIFF statement added.
