Igor Stimac to Bosnia? Or does he stay with India?

As per a Bosnian outlet, Igor Stimac has been shortlisted to take over the Bosnian national team.

The Indian national men’s football team are currently competing at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou against the best sides in Asia. The Blue Tigers made it to the headlines after qualifying for the RO16 of the Asian Games for the first time in 13 years.

It has been a year to remember for the men’s football team as they won three trophies in a span of less than four months. They have been the talk of the town for good reasons and the credit goes to none other than India’s head coach Igor Stimac and his coaching staff.

Stimac had a tough time for quite some time as he faced the heat from experts and fans all over the country. But now he has completely turned his reputation around and people want him to stay and make the national team even stronger.

According to a Bosnian outlet 'Meridian Sport', Igor Stimac is on the shortlist to take over the Bosnian national team after his current contract with the AIFF runs out. 

AIFF offers extension to Stimac

But, the good news is that before the news broke, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had already decided on rewarding the Croat with a two-year extension, according to president Kalyan Chaubey.

“We would like to continue with Mr Stimac and have conveyed that to him. Secretary-general Shaji Prabhakaran has sent him an email saying that before the match against Myanmar on Sunday,” Chaubey told Hindustan Times on Tuesday.

“The details of the extension and the terms of the contract will be finalised once Mr Stimac comes to New Delhi after the Asian Games. Ahead of such a crucial match for India, we don’t want any distraction for the team or the head coach.”

According to the Hindustan Times, Igor Stimac has been insisting for a new deal for quite some time. He either wanted an extension before the World Cup Qualifiers in November or India should start the new cycle with a new head coach.

This will be Stimac’s second extension ever since he took charge in 2019. He was offered an extension until the end of the 2024 AFC Asian Cup. And now he will be offered a two-year extension when the current one runs out.