Who Is Khalid Jamil? Details About The First Indian Coach To Take Charge Of The Men's National Team Since 2012

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday appointed Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the senior men’s national team. His selection marks the return of an Indian to the top job after more than a decade, with Savio Medeira being the last to hold the position from 2011 to 2012.

Jamil steps into the role previously occupied by Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who resigned last month after a winless stretch of over a year. The 48-year-old coach emerged as the final choice from a shortlist of three candidates, which included former India manager Stephen Constantine and Slovak coach Stefan Tarkovic.

Khalid Jamil's coaching exprience

While Jamil lacks international managerial experience, his domestic credentials are impressive. Last season, he guided Jamshedpur FC to both the ISL semifinals and the Super Cup final. Under his leadership, the club has also remained unbeaten in the ongoing Durand Cup.

Jamil, who was born in Kuwait and represented India as a midfielder, began his coaching journey in 2009 with Mumbai FC — the club where he concluded his playing career. Despite limited resources, he managed to keep Mumbai FC in India’s top flight for several seasons. In 2016, he moved to Aizawl FC, a club that had narrowly avoided relegation, and led them to a historic I-League title the following year.

Khalid Jamil faces stern test to revive Indian football

His first major test with the national side comes later this month in the CAFA Nations Cup, where India will face strong competition from defending champions Iran and Asian Cup quarterfinalists Tajikistan. The tournament, which takes place outside the FIFA international window, is expected to feature most of India’s top players as it follows the Durand Cup final.

Significantly, the tournament format allows team selections to change for each match, giving Jamil a chance to test new combinations and evaluate talent more broadly ahead of a packed international calendar.

Although Jamil remains under contract with Jamshedpur FC until 2026, he is expected to continue balancing his club and national team duties