Thirteen years after Savio Medeira last took charge, India will once again have an Indian head coach for the senior men’s national football team, with Khalid Jamil signing a two-year contract, and an option for a third, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Wednesday.
Unlike his predecessor Manolo Marquez, who split his duties between the national team and FC Goa, Jamil will work exclusively with the Blue Tigers on a full-time basis. His first training camp begins August 15 at the Dravid-Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru.
The 48-year-old’s first challenge will come later this month at the CAFA Nations Cup, where India face hosts Tajikistan (August 29), Iran (September 1) and Afghanistan (September 4) in Group B. The October FIFA window will see India contest two crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers against Singapore on October 9 and 14.
“I am both deeply proud and immensely privileged to have been entrusted with the responsibility of leading our national team. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to train Indian players, and I’ve grown to understand their strengths and weaknesses intimately. These insights will be fundamental to everything we do as we prepare for the CAFA Nations Cup and the upcoming crucial Asian Cup Qualifiers against Singapore,” Jamil said.
Jamil has previously coached teams in both the Indian Super League and the I-League, with stints at Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, Aizawl FC, East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan AC and Mumbai FC. He famously guided Aizawl FC to a historic I-League title in 2016–17.
His most recent tenure at Jamshedpur FC saw the Red Miners reach the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 final, the ISL Play-offs 2024–25 semi-finals, and the Kalinga Super Cup 2024 semi-finals.
A former India international midfielder with 15 caps, Jamil debuted in the 1997 SAFF Championship in Nepal, where India were crowned champions. He also featured in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the 2001 Merdeka Tournament.
At club level, he won the National Football League, two Federation Cups, and two IFA Shields with Mahindra United, and also turned out for Air India and Mumbai FC. Representing Maharashtra, he lifted the Santosh Trophy in 1999.