India men’s senior team head coach Igor Stimac on Tuesday signed a contract extension that will see him stay in charge of the team till the end of the AFC Asian Cup 2023.
The decision to extend the contract was recommended by the AIFF’s Technical Committee last month, and was subsequently ratified by the Executive Committee in their respective meetings in Kolkata last month. The Executive Committee also accepted the recommendations of the Technical Committee that should India make it to the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, the coach’s contract should be automatically renewed.
“I am extremely happy that the AIFF has placed the trust in the process that we have put in,” said Stimac. “We have had a very good run in the qualifiers, and we want to make sure that we keep building ourselves up till the Asian Cup and give a good account of ourselves in the continental stage.”
The 55-year-old from Croatia has been in charge of the Blue Tigers since 2019, and has successfully guided the team through to its second successive AFC Asian Cup qualification earlier this year, when India topped Group D of the Third Round qualifiers.
The Secretary General informed that the Federation will work closely with the head coach, the support staff and the players and the clubs as well in making sure a positive scenario is created for Indian football through the senior national team.
As a player, he was part the of the Croatia team which finished third at the 1998 World Cup in France. He was also a member of the team which qualified for the quarterfinals of 1996 European Championship in England.
Picture Courtesy: AIFF Media
