 "Igor Stimac was sacked as India men's football team coach after a five-year tenure. AIFF image")
Igor Stimac was removed as India men’s national football team coach on Monday by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Arguably the most high-profile personality to coach India, Stimac’s sacking has come as a big shock for the Indian football fraternity but not as a surprise. After India lost to Asian champions Qatar last week and lost out in the race to reach the third round of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, it was felt that Stimac would be sacked anytime soon.
The decision to fire Stimac was taken on Sunday before being made official on Monday.
Under Stimac, India won four major trophies – two SAFF Championships, one Intercontinental Cup and a Tri-Nations Series – in five-year tenure which began in May 2019.
Why Stimac was sacked by AIFF?
If you are wondering why Stimac was removed as India head coach despite winning trophies and after a World Cup qualifier campaign in which the Blue Tigers were alive in the race till the very last game, here’s what the AIFF said: “Noting the disappointing outcome of the Senior Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualification campaign, the members unanimously agreed that a new Head Coach would be best placed to take the team forward.”
How things went from good to bad for Stimac
Winning their first 2026 World Cup qualifiers away from home against Kuwait in November 2023 gave India a real chance to qualify for the third round for the first time but the team which had been in great form till then lost steam after entering the year of 2024.
After three dispsiring defeats in AFC Asian Cup 2023 in which India failed to score a single goal, they lost 1-2 to lower-ranked Afghanistan at home in March and drew 0-0 against Kuwait in Kolkata in June to rely on other results to qualify for the third round.
In their do-or-die last match of the World Cup qualifiers against Asian champions Qatar, India were leading 1-0 thanks to Lallianzuala Chhangte’s 37th minute strike but a controversial goal from Yousef Aymen changed the complexion of the game. Aymen scored from a pass which was made by pulling back a ball that had gone out of play. The poor refeereing shocked Indian team as Ahmed Al-Rawi scored the winner soon after.
In the team’s last second round match, poor refereeing robbed India of a chance to secure a historic entry into the third round of the World Cup Qualifiers as Asian champions Qatar rode on a controversial goal to emerge 2-1 winners in Doha.
With just five points from six matches and only one win, India were knocked out of the FIFA World Cup2 026 Qualifiers.
Stimac’s salary and contract length
One of the reasons AIFF took a bit of time to sack Stimac was the absence of a severance clause in his contract with the federation. Sacking him could result in paying him the entirety of his remaining contract.
The Croatian coach has a contract till 2026 and he draws a monthly salary of $30,000 (Rs 25 lakh approximately).
As per reports, AIFF has offered a three-month salary (Rs 75 lakh approximately) for mutually terminating the contract but if things don’t go their way then they may end up paying him the full salary of next two years which may amount to Rs 6 crore approximately.
Stimac’s overall record with India
Stimac coached India in 53 matches out of which he won 19, drew 14 and lost 20.