The Fixer: Stephen Constantine is back and Indian football should listen to him

“I’m a fixer.” India’s football head coach Stephen Constantine can been called a lot of things: globetrotter, football missionary, straight talker, or for that matter, the Big Daddy of Brit managers abroad. But his takeaway from a career which has seen him manage India, Malawi, Sudan, Nepal, Rwanda and India again is the term ‘fixer’. “I have been given this thing that I’m a fixer. So I only get called to situations where there’s a problem. Can’t wait for a day where I get a club and there are no problems.” It’s a bit of an understatement though, self deprecating in a way. The man who took Rwanda to 68th in the world is clearly more than a fixer. [caption id=“attachment_2407468” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Indian head coach Stephen Constantine. AIFF[/caption] Which brings us to the million dollar question: why did Constantine, who could have “had all the attention” as coach of the country hosting the 2016 African Nations Championship with players “ready to go straight into the Premier League or the Championship”, come back to India? What does a country ranked regularly between 140-160 in the world with a football calendar in disarray and grassroots development and infrastructure a shambles have to offer him? Why India — again? Especially when Constantine admits it’s going to be tougher this time around. “You never know where a job is going to take you. When I went to Rwanda, was it a step up? Not on paper, not physically either. But we went to 68th in the world. I see this job as a huge challenge and it’s more difficult now than before because people have realised there’s money to be made and we make decisions that are not football decisions and this is what is hurting us in my opinion.” “So I don’t think this is step up, step down or a step sideways. I have a feeling for India and invested three years of my life here and love the people and culture. I felt that with the interest now around Indian football, it’s the best time to do something.” Firstpost chased Constantine for six months following his return as India coach. When we finally caught up with him, the conversation was blunt, frank and hard-hitting. From the absolute necessity of having just one football league in India to the failure of traditional clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal and the need to align to FIFA’s calendar, Constantine presented a scathing critique of football in India . “If we do not change, Indian football will die and that is clear. We are already at death’s door and that is why we are (ranked) 156. So if we do not align our calendar with that of the rest of the world, then what are we doing? What do we expect to do? “Our players start in October. So, in September we’re doing nothing and then we expect to qualify for the World Cup and Asian Cup. This is not logical. China changed, Japan changed, Iran changed, why can’t we?” One of the first things Constantine did in Rwanda was to change the football calendar “so the boys would be ready”. But he claimed that while he was given the power to do that, it wasn’t the case overall. “When you think about national associations, it incorporates whatever revolves around it. I didn’t get what I wanted for players, development and the program.” [caption id=“attachment_2425174” align=“alignright” width=“380”]  Indian football team training before the World Cup Qualifier against Iran. AIFF Media[/caption] Despite the disillusionment in Rwanda and his love for India, Constantine’s ‘homecoming’ wasn’t an easy decision: “Here I am sitting at 68 in the world and am coming to a country where they don’t even want to play us, let alone look at us.” He’s unfazed by his legacy here. Between 2002 and 2005, he led the nation to a silver medal at the Afro Asian Games, beating Zimbabwe and Rwanda in the process. Under his guidance, India also won the LG Cup. But Indian fans are baying for more. In the ten years he was gone, a lot has changed in the game: the greatest difference being the realisation that football can be turned into a money-making machine. “A lot has changed in terms of perception – there’s a realisation that this is the world’s biggest and best sport bar none,” Constantine said. “Money can be made by advertising, marketing and selling players and it’s a multi-billion dollar business, but…” — and it’s a big but — “… from a development point, we have done some things, but not enough in the last ten years to allow us to dream of getting better things.” Constantine is one of England’s most highly qualified coaches. The UEFA Pro-License holder has had stints at Cypriut clubs Nea Salamis and Ethnikos Achna and admits that he misses the day-to-day activity of club football. But the desire to revolutionalise a football in a country has driven his decision-making. “I believe that to represent one’s country is a huge honour but to represent someone else’s is even bigger. The responsibility that another country gives you to lead them is profound. I would cut my right arm to represent England. But to represent another country and the trust and belief they have in you is greater responsibility. I would like to justify that,” he said. Constatine allowed Firstpost to watch India train on the day of the interview [“I thought about refusing at first, but then I thought it would be okay,” he said] and played the role of an observer throughout a 60-minute 11-a-side match. He hardly said anything during the drills either but during the warm down, Constantine walked up to every player, on their backs by now and stretching their feet, and whispered in their ears. After every session, the players encircle him as he goes on a monologue. India defender Sandesh Jhingan said before the Oman match in Bengaluru that the difference between Constantine and other managers he has played under is the team talk. “When Constantine talks, I get goosebumps,” the 22-year-old Jhingan said. It is a sign that while Constantine hasn’t changed in terms of how he wants his teams to play, he has a more nuanced understanding of players as individuals. “I just think that in that time [since 2005], I have learnt to understand the player – spend lots of time to understand the individual. Because by doing that, the player then understands me and I know what he can and cannot give me. I don’t scream and shout because I can. For me if I’m not pushing him, you need to be worried because I only push because I think you can give me something,” Constantine said. “I am a better coach, man manager and a leader than I was ten years earlier – it doesn’t always come with experience but in my case it has.” But this understanding doesn’t mean that his death stare has disappeared. “I think my look is worse than my screaming,” he said. “I think you have that or you don’t and it’s not something you learn. I can look at a player and he will know exactly how pissed I am,” he says, shifting slightly forward on his chair. Another revolution that has taken place since Constantine was here the first time is the ubiquity of top level club football on television. From Manchester United to Barcelona to Bayern Munich, from Lionel Messi to Cristiano Ronaldo, Indian fans are watching the very best and have grown accustomed to a faster and more skilful brand of football. However, Constantine warns that it cannot be replicated by the national team so easily. The reason is simple: “It’s about understanding level of ability you have. You can’t have players playing certain way if they don’t have the ability or foundation to do that.” Which is why Constantine has made wide-ranging changes to the age-group level staff. “I asked [assistant manager] Lee Johnson to work with the U19s, because he has the experience of working at Crystal Palace and Chelsea at community level, youth level and full time level. Nicolai Adams [the man who will be in charge of India U17 at the U17 World Cup] is in Germany working with the U15s. Those games are worth seasons playing in India. Those kids – imagine the group Nicolai has and then they go on to the U19s with Lee — they will have four-five years of solid foundation and those are the players who can go play in Europe.” Constantine has also handed 13 players their international debut. So the fixer is back. And while the fixing of Indian football will take time, small advances are already being made. The team recently bought 12 fitness trackers which are used by top teams across the world. This will help them track player fitness, heat maps and speed among other features. A software to analyse number of passes made, shots attempted and movement across channels is also being used. Of course the big battle, the one Constantine is most vocal about, is changing India’s football calendar and having one league rather than the Indian Super League and I-League mishmash we have now. Only then will India benefit from the methods of a man who is a FIFA instructor and part of their elite coaching panel. “Ask any of the stake holders in Indian football: what do you want?. [And] I can give it to you but you have to give me the power to do it. I cannot do it on my own.” The writer tweets @TheFalseNo9