Comparing Indian football team's performances under Stephen Constantine, Igor Stimac, and Manolo Marquez

Stephen Constantine and Igor Stimac took the Indian football team to the AFC Asian Cup

Indian football team has had an interesting trajectory in the last few years. With the establishment of the Indian Super League in 2014, football once again came under the spotlight. While initially promising, the national team has had a downward spiral in the last two years.

Over the last decade, the Indian football team has been managed by three head coaches. Stephen Constantine, Igor Stimac, and Manolo Marquez were given the job to take the Blue Tigers to new heights. Here is how they have fared…

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Indian football team’s rise under Stephen Constantine

Stephen Constantine was reappointed as the Indian football team’s manager in January 2015 with a target set to make it to the Asian Cup. The Englishman helped the Blue Tigers to a SAFF Championship 2015 and the Intercontinental Cup 2018.

To top things off, India also qualified for the AFC Asian Cup 2019, where they started the tournament with a memorable 4-1 win over Thailand. However, Constantine’s side were not able to make it through to the knockout rounds and the manager was sacked after the competition.

Stephen Constantine’s best year came in 2016 as India won five of their seven matches that they played that year. Overall, the Englishman managed the Indian football team in 46 games, winning 26 matches and suffering 14 losses.

When he took over the job, the Blue Tigers were ranked 173rd in the FIFA Rankings. However, Constantine helped India to the 96th spot, seeing a meteoric rise and bringing belief back to the football supporters in the country.

Igor Stimac was hired to take India to new heights

Igor Stimac was hired as the new Indian football team manager in early 2019. The Croatian tactician’s tenure started slowly, however, things began to pick up after the dreaded COVID pandemic.

In his five-year stint, Igor Stimac helped India win the SAFF Championship 2021 and 2023, the Tri-Nation Series 2023, and the Intercontinental Cup 2023. With three trophies in the bag, 2023 was by far the best year in Indian football.

However, India suffered in the AFC Asian Cup in early 2024, losing all three group games and hence, getting knocked out. A disappointing FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign made things worse as Stimac was eventually let go.

When he arrived, India were ranked in the early 100’s. Stimac helped India to 99th spot in the FIFA Rankings in 2023, however, by 2024, due to their poor form, the Blue Tigers slumped to the 121st spot.

Overall, the Indian football team played 57 games under Igor Stimac, winning 20, losing 21, and settling for 16 draws.

A new beginning under Manolo Marquez

Manolo Marquez was made the Indian football team manager in July 2024, courtesy of his impressive campaigns in the ISL with Hyderabad FC and FC Goa. The Spaniard was tasked with taking Indian football back on track, however, things have not worked out as expected so far.

Under Marquez’s tutelage, India played 8 games, winning just one, losing three, and settling for four draws. India are also at the bottom of their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification group and need to win all their remaining games to guarantee qualification.

What has been the trajectory of Indian football under the last three managers?

In terms of win percentage, Stephen Constantine’s India firmly stand tall with a 57% win rate. Igor Stimac’s Blue Tigers won 35% games while Manolo Marquez’s side have won 13%.

Scoring goals seems to be the biggest problem for the Blue Tigers and Manolo Marquez has been quite vocal about it. The Indian football team don’t have a recognized striker apart from Sunil Chhetri, who has had to come back from retirement.

However, even though India’s goals per game fell from 1.64 to 0.75, their defence has significantly improved. Under the Spaniard, the SAFF Champions have 1.13 goals per game whereas they conceded 1.43 goals per game in Igor Stimac’s tenure.

Certainly, goal scorers are the need of the hour, however including key attacking midfielders that can open up the opponent’s defence will also help. It has to be seen how the AIFF decides to go about things in the coming months.

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