Stephen Constantine vs Igor Stimac: Who has better stats as Indian football team head coach?

Has Igor Stimac elevated India? Or was Stephen Constantine a hit? What are the statistics saying?

The performance of the Indian men’s football team has seen a decline in the last few matches. Following their defeat in all matches of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, they also failed to secure a victory against Afghanistan in the recently concluded fixture of the second round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. They have also been unable to score a single goal in their last five matches, posing a significant concern.

While considering performance, it becomes evident that the head coach’s influence is significant. Igor Stimac, the head coach of the Indian men’s team, has consistently displayed a strong personality, unafraid to address the necessary factors for football’s development in the country. However, his effectiveness as a coach is occasionally scrutinized when the team experiences setbacks during matches.

Stephen Constantine vs Igor Stimac

Igor Stimac was given the responsibility of the Indian football team on May 19, 2019 after the departure of Stephen Constantine. He made headlines in his very first match, as he handed debut to six players in that game. Moreover, he recorded his first victory against Thailand in his second match as a head coach. 

Stephen Constantine had two stints with the India. The first stint lasted from 2002 to 2005. The Englishman returned to the helm again in 2015 and went on to manage the national team till 2019. 

In this article, we will mostly focus on Constantine’s second stint which will be compared to Stimac’s almost five years with the national side. 

Matches with the team

Stephen Constantine’s second stint was for almost four years while Igor Stimac has been coaching the Indian team for around five years. In May, 2024, he will complete five years as the head coach of the side. 

Constantine had coached India for 42 matches from 2015-2019 while Igor has reached 50 matches as the coach of the national team, which is also an achievement itself. 

Matches under Stephen Constantine (2015-2019) – 42

Matches under Igor Stimac (2019-2024) – 50 

Win-draw-lost

Constantine has been part of 23 wins, six draws and 13 losses while Stimac has witnessed 19 wins, 13 draws and 19 losses in his tenure. 

Stephen Constantine’s Win% – 54%

Igor Stimac’s Win% – 38%

Players used 

The nurturing of young and inexperienced players is a crucial aspect of the sport that is consistently monitored. In this regard, Constantine has provided opportunities to 67 players over the course of four years, while Igor has utilized one player less, with a total of 66 over the span of almost five years.

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