Seven-time champions India were held to a goalless draw by 205th ranked Sri Lanka despite a dominant display in their second SAFF Championships match, in Male, on Thursday.
The 51-year-old, who was part of Croatia's 1998 World Cup squad that finished third in France, comes with an experience of over 18 years in coaching, structuring, and developing football and players back home, and internationally.
India began the year on 97 in FIFA rankings, but after two wins, four draws and seven losses, the country ended 2019 at 108
The Indian football team's 13-match unbeaten run ended as it lost 1-2 to an attacking Kyrgyzstan
Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka are the other SAFF nations to severe ties with South West Asian Football Federation on the eve of the Asian Football Confederation Congress in Kuala Lumpur.
In his first visit to India since being elected the FIFA President Gianni Infantino labelled India as the "passionate giant," of Football. Infantino was in Goa as the local organising committee of the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 (LOC) unveiled the official emblem for what will be India's first international football event.
'We are a team who hate to lose, and we have proven it in recent times. We are working as per the plan'
Sporting clube de Goa confirmed they have formally withdrawn from I-League 2016-17 owing to "strong objections" to the proposed road map by All India Football Federation and its marketing partners IMG-Reliance for Indian football.
Sunil Chhetri equalled the iconic Lionel Messi with his 80th international strike as an inspired India blanked Nepal 3-0 for their eighth SAFF Championship title, in Male, on Saturday. India extended their domination in the regional tournament thanks to second half goals from Chhetri (49th minute), Suresh Singh (50th) and Sahal Abdul Samad (90th).
Sunil Chhetri scored twice during the group stage of the Asian Cup in the beginning of last year.
Dempo SC, on Wednesday, withdrew from the I-League for the upcoming season in protest against AIFF's proposed roadmap to restructure domestic football, dealing another body blow to the sport in India.
AIFF's Club Licensing Committee decided that based on the reports all the fourteen License Applicants failed to clear the Licensing Test.
Farukh Choudhary and skipper Sunil Chhetri struck in the second half to guide India to a 2-1 victory over Nepal in their second International friendly, in Kathmandu, on Sunday.
Indian Super League side FC Goa have been slapped with a fine of Rs 4,40,000 ($6,537) for two separate incidents of team misconduct while two of its players were suspended for two matches each for "offensive behaviour" by All India Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee.
Hockey coach Ramesh Parameswaran applies for Dronacharya Award
Amal Data said Alberto Colaco conspired with the referees in an attempt to save Churchill Brothers from relegation in the National Football League.
The All India Football Federation named Mahindra United's Shanmugam Venkatesh as the player of the year.
All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Technical Director Rob Bann has been admitted to a hospital in Mumbai after he lost consciousness. The 69-year-old Dutchman, who was not able to recognize people, though, regained consciousness on Thursday.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Up against the 91st-ranked Bahrain, Stimac's side, which is currently placed at 104 in the FIFA rankings, found the going tough from the word go and, had it not been for a fine save by skipper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the Indians would have trailed by a bigger margin at half time.
In a heart-warming tribute to his former teammate, Franco Fortunato recalls that "The team that won the Gold Medal in the 1962 Asian Games was a fantastic bunch. But Chuni was above all. He was a treat to watch. He was pure entertainment, a complete package. He was our captain, our darling".
Sangeeta received the Indian team call-up after impressing in the age-group tournaments but before her dream to play for the senior national side could take flight, the pandemic struck leading to a nationwide lockdown.
The aggregate score read 4-2 in favour of the Blues who will now look to land their first ever ISL title on Sunday.
The All India Football Federation decided to offer Stephen Constantine the job coach the Indian football team after the recommendations of the Technical Committee.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Tuesday
Former India footballer Gouramangi Singh's wife, Pushpanjali has been airlifting Indians stranded in different parts of the world and bringing them back home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Time froze for Oinam Bembem Devi when she received a phone call from the AIFF media manager breaking the news of her being named the All India Football Federation's 'Women's Player of the Year'.
East Bengal finally got an investor with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee announcing on Thursday a joint venture of the century-old club with city-based Shree Cement company and making a strong pitch for its inclusion in the Indian Super League this year.
India U-17 football team captain Amarjit Singh's confidence is set to get a boost during the World Cup as his full family will be in New Delhi to cheer him.
'I really enjoyed boxing - I still do. This is a sport that really puts you through a lot of hard training, and you can always reap the benefits of that, even as a footballer.'
'The National Team gaining its best ranking since December 2005 shows that we are on the upsurge. The ranking enables us to be placed in pot two when the draw for the Asian Cup Qualifiers UAE 2019 is to be conducted later this month'
The postponed FIFA Under-17 Women's World Cup in India was on Tuesday rescheduled to next year from February 17 to March 7 after the world body made a "thorough assessment" of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was originally scheduled to be held from November 2 to 21 this year but was postponed last month due to the coronavirus outbreak, which brought global sports activities to a grinding halt.
'Dhoni is a very humble man, besides being a great person who is always motivating us and sharing his experiences.'
Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia has been inducted into the AFC's Hall of Fame, the All India Football Federation said on Wednesday.
Sunil Chhetri, playing in his 121st international in the SAFF Championship, struck in the 27th minute to place himself just a goal shy of legendary Brazillian Pele (77 goals from 92 matches).
Sandesh Jhingan will become the first India international footballer to play in the Croatian top-tier league Prva HNL after completing a move from ATK Mohun Bagan to HNK Sibenik.
Earlier this month, India had held Asian champions Qatar to a goalless draw in Doha to gain their first point in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers.
India captain Virat Kohli has postponed the RP-SG Indian Sports Honours, which was to take place on Saturday, as a 'mark of respect' to the Central Reserve Police Force personnel martyred in the Pulwama terrorist attack.
The group stage draw of the continent's top-tier league involving 40 teams was held online in Margao.
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