Xavi Hernandez's Application for India Coach Position Rejected Due to High Costs

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez applied for India's head coach position, but the All India Football Federation (AIFF) could not process his application due to high costs involved in recruiting a world-class coach. Xavi was among 170 applicants for the position, which also included former Liverpool players Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell. The AIFF is currently considering three candidates, including home-bred Khalid Jamil, for the position.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has reportedly rejected the application of former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez for the position of India's head coach due to high financial costs. Xavi was one of the 170 applicants who expressed interest in the role, including former Liverpool players Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell [1].

The AIFF received a total of 170 applications for the top position, with prominent names such as Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic among the candidates [2]. The technical committee of the AIFF, headed by former captain IM Vijayan, met on July 23 to shortlist the candidates [3]. The AIFF is currently considering three candidates for the position, including Khalid Jamil, who is favored to replace former coach Manolo Marquez [2].

Xavi's application was unique as he sent it from his own email account without a contact number, highlighting his genuine interest in the role. However, the AIFF's technical committee informed TOI that the high financial cost associated with hiring a world-class coach like Xavi was a significant factor in rejecting his application [1].

The AIFF is under pressure to appoint a new head coach quickly, as there is an upcoming FIFA international match window in September and India's AFC Asian Cup qualifying round games on October 9 and 14 [3]. The AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey assured that the Indian Super League (ISL) will take place this season, though the start date remains uncertain [3].

The AIFF's decision to reject Xavi's application due to financial constraints underscores the challenges faced by the federation in attracting top-tier coaching talent. The appointment of a new head coach is expected to be finalized within the next 10 days [3].

References:
[1] https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/xavi-hernandez-applies-for-india-head-coach-role-but-gets-rejected-by-aiff-due-to-high-salary-report-101753421365166.html
[2] https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/sports-games/3516559-xavis-surprise-bid-for-india-coach-stuns-aiff
[3] https://www.business-standard.com/sports/football-news/aiff-chief-chaubey-confirms-isl-this-season-coach-to-be-named-soon-125072401532_1.html