5 candidates who could be perfect replacements for Indian football head coach Stephen Constantine

Modified Oct 30, 2017 14:02 IST

Indian football is on cloud nine right now. But the senior national team, on an unbeaten 12-match run, the team which went from 171 to 96 in the FIFA rankings under Stephen Constantine, is reportedly seeking a new coach.

Some senior footballers have orchestrated a move to remove the coach, alleging he's technically not good enough to lead the side. According to reports, five top players of Constantine's starting XI recently met the AIFF general secretary Kushal Das during the national camp in Mumbai and said a technical assessment of the coach should be done with immediate effect.

The matter is still to be settled but if the unthinkable happens and Constantine is sacked, here are top 5 candidates who would be the perfect replacement for the Englishman.

#5 Zico

Zico in his stint with FC Goa showed that he could adapt to Indian conditions quickly. In January 2017, FC Goa confirmed ending their three-year association with the Brazilian great. Keeping the logistical challenges of the upcoming season in mind, the two parties amicably came to this decision.

Zico is someone with a sound technical know-how and was also the technical advisor for the Brazil national team during the 1998 World Cup. Zico is a strict and stubborn guy who has no problem standing up to the federation and demanding his rights. Indian football currently lacks big personalities right now and the national team would love to have a coach like Zico, who has also played on the big stage.

#4 Ashley Westwood

The Manchester United academy graduate has had prior experience in India, thanks to a highly successful stint as the manager of Bengaluru FC. He is widely regarded as the man who took Bengaluru FC to new heights.

Westwood changed the face of Bengaluru FC as he created a behemoth of a football team in the I-League. ATK have signed Westwood as their Director of Football ahead of the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season but he could be a good choice for the Indian national team as well.

#3 Guus Hiddink

When it comes to taking small teams to greater heights, there is no one better than Guus Hiddink. This is the same manager who has managed Real Madrid and Chelsea in the past.

After 2015, the Dutchman has not taken up any national or domestic duty. If the AIFF takes this wild shot, it would certainly improve the national team. His technical knowledge and ability to adapt to any environment given to him is just the stuff of legends.

South Korea and Australia are the perfect examples of magic which he can produce with limited resources. Could India be the next?

#2 Robin Dutt

Born on January 25, 1965 in Cologne as the son of an Indian migrant and a German mother, Dutt developed a passion for football at a very young age and after playing in the junior teams of some football clubs near Stuttgart, where he grew up, he worked his way up to the top levels of the national league.

His career as a football coach began in 1995 with a regional team and since then he has coached the second division team Stuttgarter Kickers as well as Bundesliga clubs SC Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen.

Dutt is someone who seems destined to be the India coach. Although his stints in German clubs were not that successful, his technical knowledge is something that would be very useful for the Indian team.

#1 David Moyes

David Moyes is in India right now on media duties for the FIFA U17 World Cup. He was previously the manager of Preston North End, Everton, Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland. Moyes was the 2003, 2005 and 2009 Manager of the Year. He is also on the committee for the League Managers Association in an executive capacity.

After his dreadful stint at Manchester United, his career has been a rollercoaster ride and it is time to look for international duties.

As a technically sound and efficient manager, he would be perfect for the Indian national team. The AIFF should meet up with him and enquire his interests in Indian national team.

And if this happens, Moyes' technical prowess could be something that could propel the Indian team to uncharted territory.

Edited by Abhijit Bharali