Stanley Rozario, Nausad Moosa among top Indian names applied for men's team head coach's position

NEW DELHI: Stanley Rozario, the former coach of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, along with Nausad Moosa, the current assistant coach of NorthEast United, have submitted their applications for the position of head coach of the Indian national football team. The position became available following the dismissal of Igor Stimac.
The All India Football Federation received a total of 291 applications from candidates worldwide.Among the applicants, 100 possess UEFA Pro License diplomas, while 20 hold AFC Pro License diplomas. Additionally, three applicants have CONMEBOL (South American Football Confederation) licenses.
Rozario and Moosa are among the candidates with AFC Pro License diplomas. Notably, Antonio Lopez Habas, who recently led Mohun Bagan Super Giant to the 2023-24 ISL League Shield, has also expressed interest in the position by submitting his application.
"Stanley Rozario and Nausad Moosa are among the Indians who have applied and who hold AFC Pro License. Antonio Habas has also applied," an AIFF official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Rozario, aged 64, started his coaching journey with Services and Indian Army before taking on the role of assistant coach for the national team under Bob Houghton from 2006 to 2008. He led East Bengal (2008–2009) and Mohun Bagan (2010–2011) as head coach. From 2019 to 2021 and for a brief period in 2022, he was associated with Aizwal FC in the I-League.
Moosa, a 52-year-old former India player, has coached Air India in the I-League. In 2021, he took on the role of interim head coach at Bengaluru FC and currently serves as the assistant coach for ISL side NorthEast United.
The shortlisted candidates will be presented to the AIFF executive committee during their meeting on July 20. Prior to that, a committee chaired by AIFF Vice President NA Haris, along with the chairpersons of Technical, League, Competitions, Finance and Development committees and the treasurer, will assess the applications.
The AIFF had announced that the new men's team coach would be appointed by the end of this month.
The AIFF executive committee meeting on July 20 will also address the implementation of the Indian football roadmap agreed upon in 2019, following a letter from the I-League Clubs Association highlighting concerns on several key issues.
According to the Indian football roadmap, which was agreed upon by stakeholders in 2019 with the involvement of the continental body, the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL) was supposed to introduce relegation starting from the 2024-25 season. However, no public information has been released regarding this matter. The ISL is set to commence on September 14.
The other aspect of the roadmap has been accomplished, with Punjab FC, the I-League champions of the 2022-23 season, being promoted to the ISL (2023-24) season. Mohammedan Sporting, the 2023-24 I-League champions, have also secured promotion to the ISL (2024-25 season).
In a letter addressed to the AIFF chief and executive committee members, Ranjit Bajaj, president of the I-League Clubs Association, has threatened legal action if the AIFF fails to adhere to the Indian football roadmap.