This is part 2 of RevSportz’s exclusive interview with Igor Stimac, former coach of the India men’s football team. You can read part 1 here.
You are touching upon some really important questions, but then what is the solution? Change the law, bring in PIO, that will give you a 10-year gap. You are talking about taking 13 years to make young players into good footballers. So this gap, you fill with PIO players. Solution 2, I- League, let it be played with Indian footballers. ISL, you are saying these clubs should now have ambitions at the Asian level. Only if you have that, you will bring in quality foreigners. Are these three [steps] the solution then?
Stimac: There are many more solutions also, but none will succeed until we stop putting local interests or state interests in front of the interests of Indian football. All the stakeholders need to sit down together and prioritise what is the aim here, because in each country in the world, football exists at the lowest level for one reason, to have a successful national team.
That’s the main reason for football’s existence, because the biggest competition in the world is the World Cup. Are the clubs playing there, or football nations? Is it dream of Indians to participate at the World Cup one day? So, we all need to work together to create a strong pool of players, talented Indian players, to make sure that they have somewhere to play and develop their strengths – to represent the country at the end of the day, and to qualify [for the World Cup] with India football.
You are saying we don’t prioritise the national team? That is the fundamental problem?
Stimac: Absolutely not. And we mentioned that many times there, and I said many times, you can bring [Pep] Guardiola, you can bring [Jose] Mourinho for the head coach. The result will be the same, while you’re behaving like that.
Would you have brought somebody like Sunil [Chhetri] back? Is that a solution?
Stimac: That was a short-term solution, because Manolo probably noticed that there is no killer in front of the goal, and at that point he needed Sunil, and probably asked him to come back for that game, to get the win. Three points to lift up the confidence of the players in the dressing room and to calm down the nation, I would say, but it’s always risky to do so.
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This has been a very troubling interview for me, because clearly, it is not looking good, and both of us should not sugarcoat it. When you take an objective view, we have a Vision 2047 – Manolo got angry one day and said that even in 2097, nothing will happen. He lost his cool after the match against Bangladesh. What’s the way forward, coach? Do you see Stimac replaced by Manolo, Manolo replaced by X, X replaced by Y, and the drama continues?
Stimac: Everybody is raising the same questions in India. At the same time, everyone knows the answer and nothing is done. I said several times, multiple times. Whenever I was telling the truth, on the other hand, I had the PR machine of one of the stakeholders in the house to kill me and present me as a self-interest boy or someone who is just there, not caring about Indian football. And actually, I was the only one caring about Indian football.
Telling the truth, that’s the only way forward. Opening the cards, sitting around the table among the other stakeholders and saying, what are we going to do with this football? It’s the place where you can have average foreign players earning good money. Some coaches who are there with great faith and willing to help, and others who’ve got nowhere else to go and are picking up some money. And that’s it. That’s your football at the moment. That’s not the good way of doing things.
Have you been in touch with some of the footballers or with Manolo, or anybody in the system?
Stimac: Yes, I was. Always. I keep my relations with the boys and with the coaches, and we are in touch. We all know the problems. But, you know, once I was the one of few who was saying the truth, not caring about what someone was going to think or [fearing] losing my position. And that’s what I did throughout my tenure for five years, but not many listened.
I’ve got some answers to my interview, but I don’t think Indian football has any answers. One always has to think positively and be optimistic, but even optimism is kind of dying out. I don’t see light at the end of the tunnel, at least at this point in time. And as someone who wants the betterment of Indian food ball, it is not a good position to be in.
Stimac: I would mention again, do not be too pessimistic, because first of all, Manolo deserves the credit for knowing the situation and taking responsibility. It is his chance to lead the team forward. I will remind you that I started in the qualifiers, but somehow survived with the vision, with the fight, with the willingness to face the people on the other side and tell them the truth. Fighting for the players, for the dressing room, developing their core strength and abilities at the same time. And Manolo will try and do the same.
I’m quite convinced it’s going to be difficult, but it’s going to be easier with your help, with your belief, and surrounding him with support. You know, if there is no support from the fans, from those who are important in Indian football, then it’s going to be very difficult for Manolo and the boys in the rest of the [2027 AFC Asian Cup] qualifiers.
Also Read: Manolo Marquez fury justified after awful India escape with a draw
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