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India's former top coach Sanjoy Sen came out all guns blazing at the current coach Igor Stimac after a poor performance at the 2026 WC Qualifiers against Afghanistan. Stimac is under fire after a series of poor performances by the Blue Tigers in the Asian Games and the AFC Asian Cup. Later, the team ended in a goalless draw against Afghanistan as well as a 1-2 defeat in Guwahati on March 26. In an interview, Sen blamed the foreign coaches for the team’s failures.
The former India coach questioned the impact of foreign coaches on Indian football and stated that the team hasn’t made any progress under their guidance. Not only this, but he didn’t mince his words while criticising the All India Football Association (AIFF) and its decision to hire foreign coaches and raised a finger at the process’ accountability.
Sen spoke to IANS and said, “Indian football hasn’t moved an inch forward with the help of these so-called foreign players.” He added, “Had there been an Indian coach in place of Stimac, he would have lost his job much earlier. This is all because of our appeasement of foreign coaches.” Speaking on what India gained from a foreign coach, Sen said, “I don’t know if we have. Has the level of football improved? I don’t know. In my modest understanding, I feel Indian football has not moved a single step forward with the help of these so-called foreign coaches, be it Stephen Constantine, or Igor Stimac.”
“I also think that after Bob Haughton, no capable foreign coach has come to India. If we see international football, most teams have their own national coach. South Korea lost to Jordan in the semifinal of the Asian Cup with a coach of the stature of German legend Jurgen Klinsmann. Those who are operating our football and travelling all over the world are also witnessing this,” he further spoke.
He also held AIFF responsible for the mess they created by recruiting foreign coaches. “This federation has to take the responsibility. It must be seen how far we have progressed by appointing foreign coaches, who come to India and show us dreams that we will play the World Cup in 2026, 2030, and so on and so forth…And we are witnessing this for the last 20-25 years.”
