Who was last Indian coach to take charge of national football team?

With Khalid Jamil’s appointment, the national team returned to Indian roots after a long reliance on foreign managers.

The men’s senior football team has seen several foreign coaches at the helm, but after more than a decade, an Indian is set to lead the national team again.

Last Friday, the AIFF announced Khalid Jamil’s appointment as the head coach, a significant moment, as he became the first Indian to lead the team in 13 years.

Also Read: Five players who can break into Indian football team under Khalid Jamil

Who was the last Indian head coach?

Prior to Khalid Jamil, the last Indian coach in charge of the national team was Savio Medeira, from October 2011 through to May 2012.

A past player turned coach, Medeira had already established himself at the club level and in the national setup as well. He tasted coaching success with Salgaocar FC, leading them to a Durand Cup win in 2003.

He later became assistant coach to Bob Houghton in the national team, where they had two Nehru Cups and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, earning a place in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

An eventful run in a short time

Savio was appointed as head coach after the Blue Tigers’ 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying hopes were dashed, and Armando Colaco stepped down. His tenure began promisingly with a 1–1 draw against Malaysia on November 13, 2011.

Soon after, he led the Blue Tigers into the 2011 SAFF Championship. Under his leadership, they triumphed in the tournament, defeating Afghanistan 4–0 in the final, Madeira’s biggest success during his brief spell.

Medeira’s team was spearheaded by the stalwarts Sunil Chhetri, Subrata Paul, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Gouramangi Singh, Clifford Miranda, Syed Rahim Nabi, Francis Fernandes, and Jewel Raja.

ll these players were the backbone of the national team and the ones who helped the team win the SAFF Cup, giving hope for Indian football.

Struggles leading to departure

Despite the initial success at the SAFF Cup, things quickly went downhill for Medeira. Blue Tigers suffered a heavy 0–4 friendly defeat to Bayern Munich, followed by poor results against Oman and Azerbaijan.

The real blow came during the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, where they lost all three group-stage matches. The poor showings stressed the gap in quality between India and other Asian teams.

Accordingly, when his contract expired in May 2012, Medeira was not kept on, ending an Indian-managed period of more than a decade.

A fresh start under Khalid Jamil

Now, in 2025, the baton is now handed to Khalid Jamil, a veteran coach with grit and profoundly ingrained knowledge of domestic football from the grassroots level. Jamil’s appointment is a signal that a new era dawns where local coaching talent is once again entrusted to guide the nation.

With the potential of a new generation of hopeful players and a requirement for tactical coherence, all eyes are on Jamil now as they expect him to provide stability, pride, and advancement for Indian football.

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