Top 7 contenders who have applied to be new Indian Football Team head coach profiled

#6 Massimiliano Maddaloni

Massimiliano Maddaloni served as an assistant to Marcelo Lippi

Another applicant whose prior head coaching experience has largely been at youth levels, Maddaloni has been Marcelo Lippi's lieutenant during the Italian's spell in China - both with Guangzhou Evergrande and the Chinese national team.

Guangzhou have become a force to reckon with in the Chinese Super League now, and a large part of that credit has to go to Lippi.

Maddaloni was also Ciro Ferrara's assistant both at Juventus and Chinese club Wuhan Zall.

Like De Biasi, Maddaloni was also head coach at Italian club Carpi, although that stint lasted only a year, in 2011.

What we can expect from Maddaloni will definitely be the stereotypical Italian brand of football, with a large focus on being strong defensively, and then springing forward on quick counter-attacks.

India's ability to defend as a unit sometimes came under the spotlight under Constantine, and that is something which, in true Italian style, Maddaloni will be looking to sort out, if he is indeed the man trusted with the reins.