Indian Football Team: Five longest-serving coaches

Plenty of highly qualified tacticians have tried their hand at making the Indian football team successful.

The Indian football team has a long history of brilliant head coaches who were given the reigns of the national team to bring success and reasons to celebrate to the passionate Indian football fans. It has not been always a smooth ride for the football enthusiasts in the country with the national team suffering from inconsistency over the years.

Under Igor Stimac, the current head coach of the men’s national team, the Blue Tigers have begun to punch above their weight and show faint signs of consistency. The tactician stepped into the role of head coach of the national team in 2019 and has since developed a strong relationship with the fans and the players.

However, the interesting question is where does he rank amongst the longest-serving coaches of the Indian football team? Here is a look at the top five:

5. Syed Abdul Rahim - 35 matches

Syed Abdul Rahim was the head coach of the Indian football team for a total of 35 matches. He led the Blue Tigers first in 1950. He took the team to an Asian Games gold medal in what was one of the most successful eras for the national team. Under his leadership, India won gold in the Asian Games in 1951 and 1962.

Syed Abdul Rahim also took the India to the semi-finals of the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, which remains one of the biggest achievements to date for the national team. 

4. P.K. Banerjee - 35 matches

P.K. Banerjee also led the Indian football team for 35 matches. He coached the Blue Tigers in three different spells starting in 1970 and ending in 1986. He led the Indian team to a bronze medal finish at the 1970 Asian Games in Thailand. 

As far as his managerial record is concerned with the Indian men’s national team, he delivered seven wins, 10 draws and 18 defeats in 35 matches. 

3. Igor Stimac - 41 matches

Igor Stimac has been at the helm for a long while now with his appointment taking place in 2019. The Croatian mentor has led the Indian football team for 41 matches and is set to overtake other managers ahead of him as the longest-serving coach.

Igor Stimac has delivered 18 wins, 12 draws and 11 defeats since his appointment. The Blue Tigers have won the SAFF Championship (2021, 2023), the Tri-Nation Tournament (2023) and the Intercontinental Cup (2023) under his leadership as of 3 September 2023.

2. Bob Houghton - 44 matches

Bob Houghton was the head coach of the Indian national team for 44 matches. He led the Blue Tigers from 2006 to 2011. In 44 matches under his care, the Indian team won 14 games, drew six and lost 24 times.

Bob Houghton took the reins of the Blue Tigers in 2006 after managing Chinese side Changsha Ginde. India won the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 and the Nehru Cup in 2007 and 2009 while he was at the helm.

1. Stephen Constantine - 60 matches

Stephen Constantine holds the record for being the longest-serving coach of the men’s Indian football team. He led the Blue Tigers for 60 matches in two different spells. His initial spell saw the Englishman lead the side from 2002 to 2005 and the second spell lasted from 2015 to 2019.

Overall, from 60 matches under Stephen Constantine, India won 27, drew 11 and lost 22 matches. He delivered the SAFF Championship title in 2016, and the Intercontinental Cup in 2018.