India senior women's team's coaching staff ahead of AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026
India begins its campaign against Vietnam in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup
It has been an eventful period for the Indian senior women’s team with the arrival of Amelia Valverde into the coaching setup ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
With the tournament drawing closer, the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) has taken steps to reinforce the backroom staff as part of its preparations for one of the biggest challenges India has faced in recent years.
While much of the attention has naturally been on Amelia and the experience she brings from the international stage, the work of the Indian senior women’s team goes far beyond a single appointment.
Behind the scenes, a group of coaches and support staff continue to play a crucial role in guiding the squad through an important phase of preparation.
Let us take a look at the coaching and support staff that is going to help the Blue Tigresses achieve Asian glory.
Amelia Valverde – Head Coach
Amelia Valverde has steadily built a strong reputation in women’s football through her work at both international and club levels. Born on January 14, 1987, in Costa Rica, she played domestically for sides such as Flores de Heredia and Saprissa before moving into coaching, where her sharp understanding of the game and eye for detail quickly stood out.
Valverde joined the Costa Rica women’s national team setup in 2011 and rose through the ranks before being appointed head coach in 2015, becoming one of the youngest national team coaches in women’s football. During her time in charge, she led Costa Rica to two FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances in 2015 and 2023, along with medal finishes at major regional tournaments.
After eight years with Costa Rica, Valverde moved into club football in December 2023, taking over at Monterrey Femenil in Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil. She made an immediate impact, guiding the team to back-to-back league titles in the 2024 Clausura and Apertura seasons.
Her arrival ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 adds valuable international and club experience to the Indian setup, giving the Blue Tigresses a steady and experienced voice as they prepare for a major regional challenge.
Crispin Chettri- Coach
Crispin Chettri has become a well-known figure in Indian women’s football. A former India U‑19 international, he transitioned into coaching after his playing days and gradually made a name for himself in the domestic women’s game.
Chettri first caught eyes when he helped Sethu FC finish runners-up in the Indian Women’s League (IWL); later on, he joined Odisha FC women’s team and guided them to IWL glory in the 2023–24 season and helped the club qualify for continental competition.
In early 2025, the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) appointed Chettri as the head coach of the Indian women’s national football team; under his leadership, the Indian team qualified for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2027.
Priya P.V. – Assistant Coach
Priya P.V., the assistant coach of the Indian women’s football team, has been a trailblazer in Indian women’s football coaching. In 2007, she earned her AFC-C licence and, over the years, steadily climbed the coaching ladder. Her first major success came in 2012, when she guided the India U‑14 women’s team to victory at the AFC U‑14 Championship, repeating the feat the following year.
She went on to become the first woman from Kerala to earn the AFC-A licence, and in 2020, she led Gokulam Kerala (women) to their first-ever Indian Women’s League title, cementing her reputation as one of the country’s leading coaches.
Nivetha Ramadoss – Assistant Coach
Nivetha Ramadoss began her coaching journey in 2014 with Wesley United, quickly making a mark in Indian women’s football. She later went on to coach Sethu FC and Gokulam Kerala FC, gaining valuable experience at the top level of the domestic game.
Nivetha holds an AFC-A coaching licence, reflecting her commitment to professional development and her growing influence in shaping women’s football in India. She is currently the assistant coach of the Indian women’s football team.
Gayatri Mallik – Assistant Coach
Gayatri Mallik, a former India international from Odisha, serves as the assistant coach of the senior national women’s team. She was part of Odisha’s gold-winning squad at the 2011 National Games in Jamshedpur and has since made her mark in coaching.
As assistant coach, Gayatri played a key role in guiding Odisha FC Women to the Indian Women’s League title in 2023–24 and helped the team qualify for the main draw of the AFC Women’s Champions League, highlighting her growing influence in Indian women’s football.
Mario Aguiar – Goalkeeping Coach
Mario Aguiar brings a wealth of experience to the backroom setup. A former professional who played for clubs like Dempo, SESA and Churchill Brothers, he moved into coaching soon after his playing career and has since remained deeply involved in Indian football.
Aguiar has spent close to a decade working with India’s national youth teams and was the goalkeeping coach of the U-17 side at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.
Eli Ávila – Goalkeeping Coach
Eli Ávila, the Costa Rican, has been appointed as the goalkeeping coach for the Indian women’s national team. Ávila is part of the coaching staff that Amelia Valverde brings with her; the coach brings specialised expertise in goalkeeping and will work closely with the squad to strengthen India’s last line of defence ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Ávila, a former goalkeeper, previously worked closely with Valverde during her time with the Costa Rican women’s national team and later at CF Monterrey, bringing valuable continuity and experience to their partnership.
Chelston Pinto – Strength & Conditioning Coach
Chelston Pinto has steadily built his profile working across different levels of Indian football. He has previously been part of setups at Bengaluru United, Jamshedpur FC, and the Bengaluru FC Soccer Schools, gaining hands-on experience in player development and elite environments.
He now serves as the strength and conditioning coach of the Indian women’s national team, playing a key role in managing fitness levels as the Blue Tigresses prepare for the demands of international football.
José Sánchez – Strength & Conditioning Coach
José Sánchez is the strength and conditioning coach of the Indian women’s national team and is one of the recent additions to the setup. Hailing from Costa Rica, Sánchez joins the Blue Tigresses as part of Amelia Valverde’s coaching group, bringing familiarity with her methods and approach.
Sánchez has prior experience within the Costa Rican national team setup and also spent time with domestic giants Deportivo Saprissa, where the coach developed a strong understanding of elite-level football both at the international and club level.
Who is Amelia Valverde
Amelia Valverde is a Costa Rican football coach who has worked as the head coach of Costa Rica’s women’s national team and has coached at two FIFA Women’s World Cups.
When does the AFC Women’s Asian Cup start
It starts on 1st March 2026 in Australia
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Ayushman Sharma is a sports enthusiast with a deep love for football, following the game closely since 2018. A hardcore supporter of NorthEast United FC and FC Barcelona, he has also gained valuable on-ground experience by volunteering during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Guwahati.