Indian football team's coaching staff for Khalid Jamil era

Here is the support staff structure for the Blue Tigers under Khalid Jamil’s leadership!

It has been a few weeks since the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the Indian National Senior Men’s Football Team. There were over 140 applicants for the job, out of whom the Technical Committee of the AIFF made a shortlist of ten, then three, and finally made the announcement on August 1st.

While a lot of deliberations and discussions have gone into how Khalid Jamil will try to find ways to reinvigorate a side that has been going through a rough patch for more than a year, not enough has been talked about the entire coaching team that also comprises of Assistant coach Mahesh Gawli, Goalkeeping coach Feroze Sheriff, and Strength and Conditioning coach Manuel Dsouza.

In this article, we take a look at the profiles of all the coaches in the team, their prior experience, and what they bring to the side in a collective attempt to get the Blue Tigers to roar again.

Head Coach – Khalid Jamil

Khalid Jamil has become a household name in Indian Football ever since his fairytale I-League triumph run with Aizawl FC in 2017. After playing for Mahindra United and Air India, Jamil ended his playing days at Mumbai FC, where he took up the role of coach and stayed at the club between 2009 to 2015.

He joined Aizawl FC in 2016 and went off on a sensational run, lifting the I-League, which was still considered to be the premier club competition in India, despite ISL’s initiation. He would go on to coach both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan before joining NorthEast United FC as assistant coach, where he would be promoted to the head coach role, the first time an Indian had gotten the role in the ISL.

His last job before AIFF came calling was with Jamshedpur FC, with whom he reached the semi-finals of the ISL and the final of the Super Cup 2025. Jamil’s pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to football can prove to be crucial to the Blue Tigers, who are in severe need of discipline in their game.

Assistant Coach – Mahesh Gawali

Mahesh Gawali is considered a legend at Dempo Sports Club, where he played between 2007 and 2015. He also has a very impressive tally of 68 caps for India, between 1999 to 2011.

As manager, Gawali started as the assistant coach of the Indian Arrows, a project he was attached to between 2019 to 2022. He coached the Indian U20 men’s team from 2022 to 2023, as he was a constant member of Igor Stimac’s coaching team.

Gawali comes with a lot of experience in managing young Indian players from his time with the Arrows and the U20 side, many of whom now ply their trade for the senior team. He will be a crucial part of Khalid Jamil’s team.

Goalkeeping Coach – Feroze Sherif

Feroze Sherif has played with Khalid Jamil in the past, from their time together at Mahindra United FC. Originally from Kochi in Kerala, Feroz joined State Bank of Travancore and played in the NFL, which was the premier footballing club tournament in the country at the time.

After Travancore were relegated in 2022, Sherif joined Mahindra United, where he played with Khalid Jamil. He would also consistently get called up for duties for the National Team, during the 1997 Nehru Cup, the 1998 Asian Games, and the 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification.

He has been the Goalkeeping Coach of the U16 and U19 India teams in the past.

Strength and Conditioning Coach – Manuel Dsouza

Manuel Dsouza was a striker from his playing days, notably for Mumbai FC under Khalid Jamil’s tutelage in the I-League. Dsouza has experience as a coach as well, having managed Ambernath United in I-League Division 2 and multiple youth teams.

D’Souza’s experience as a strength and conditioning coach transcends just football, as he has also worked with Kabaddi and Pro-Volleyball teams. His prior relationship with Khalid Jamil makes him a trustworthy figure in the Indian coaching team.

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