Igor Stimac addresses his future with Blue Tigers after AFC Asian Cup 2023

According to the tactician, he will not stay in his position after the tournament.

Igor Stimac’s update on his future has caused quite a discussion in Indian football. The Croatian, in a recent interaction, confirmed his plans to leave the position of Indian men’s football team’s head coach. He will stay with the Blue Tigers until the end of the AFC Asian Cup 2023, which will be his final assignment with the national team.

Since his appointment in 2019, Igor Stimac has received mixed reviews for his performance as head coach of the men’s national team. “I am not planning to stay after the Asian Cup, so the performance target does not apply there,” he told Sportstar in response to a query regarding receiving any sort of performance target by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

“Done everything for the boys”

Igor Stimac says that he has worked intensively to develop Indian players and contribute to the growth of Indian football. He said, “ I have done everything for the boys with passion and put all my knowledge for their development - be it man management, improvement of their technical ability, mindset, and fitness. I have also given them knowledge about nutrition and diet and this will basically complete the cycle of five years after the Asian Cup main round.”

“So, it is logical that I stay with them till the end of the Asian Cup and then move on to my other plans. What I will do now is give everything I have and see that they not only qualify for the quarterfinals but move even further,” he went on to add, sounding hopeful for India’s chances at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Under Igor Stimac, the senior men’s national team saw more than 20 players receive their national cap. This indicates that the tactician kept on finding new combinations and gave chances to players to make a name for themselves on the international stage. Stimac led the team to a SAFF Cup win and qualification to the Asian Cup main round.

When his tenure as the head coach of the Indian men’s football team ends, Stimac will look back on his experience as challenging and yet fulfilling.