Former India coach Stephen Constantine shares his views on Lionel Messi, ranking him below Pele, Maradona, and Ronaldinho due to his reliance on teammates for defensive work. He also predicts Spain will win the upcoming final against Argentina, despite acknowledging Argentina's experience and Messi's match-winning ability. Constantine further discusses England's semi-final exit and criticises hydration breaks and refereeing controversies.
Former India football coach Stephen Constantine has expressed deep disappointment over the national team's current decline, criticising the All India Football Federation for its decisions, including the appointment of Khalid Jamil as coach despite his lack of international experience. Constantine, who led India to a historic FIFA ranking of 96, believes he should still be managing the team and calls for wider structural reforms in Indian football.
The All India Football Federation decided to offer Stephen Constantine the job coach the Indian football team after the recommendations of the Technical Committee.
The technical committee of the AIFF, headed by former captain IM Vijayan, will meet on Wednesday to shortlist the candidates for the appointment of the head coach of the senior men's national team after the federation received 170 applications for the vacant post.
Stephen Constantine is returning to coach India. The country's football federation confirmed on Friday that the Englishman has agreed to a second stint with the national team.
National football coach Stephen Constantine may have ruled Michael Chopra out from representing India but the British PIO today said he's not lost hope and was waiting the 53-year-old's exit. Hitting out at the India coach, the Kerala Blasters forward said: "Stephen Constantine can say whatever he wants. Personally, it's not a problem for me. Well has he achieved anything in the game as a player? No." There had been reports that All India Football Federation may not be too keen to extend Constantine's contract that gets over in February, a month before the Asian Cup qualifiers begin.
Stephen Constantine will return as Indian football team's chief coach for the second time as his name has been cleared by the AIFF.
India's English coach they are having a demoralising effect on the current crop of players.
India football coach Stephen Constantine has told his bosses to stand up to the dominating television companies if they ever want local football to flourish in the floundering South Asian nation.
Jamil will succeed Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who parted ways with the AIFF last month following India's recent struggles.
Mohun Bagan's coach will assist the India chief coach for the for the Afro-Asian Games.
The Indian football team's Anglo-Cypriot coach said the team did not do well in only two or three of the 23 matches it played under him.
India's chief football coach refused to accept moral responsibility for the 7-0 defeat against Japan.
Stephen Constantine has first hand knowledge of how difficult it is to wake up India from its soccer slumber but the Englishman insists he can make a difference at his second attempt or he would not have accepted the offer.
The 41-year-old British national guided India to the silver medal at the Afro-Asian Games.
Jamil's first assignment in his new role will be the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup, to be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan starting August 29.
India's chief football coach said the under-17 tournament will not be easy for India as teams like Iran and Kuwait are in their group.
India's Anglo-Cypriot coach football coach feels he will have to make compromises because of the long-drawn National league.
Xavi Hernandez and Pep Guardiola's applications were not genuine: AIFF
Indian national footbal team coach Stephen Constantine has been offered a one-year extension by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) keeping in mind preparations for the 2019 Asian Cup.
The Indian coach apparently played a key role in impressing on the AIFF to pull out of the tournament.
The group stage Asian Cup exit turning out to be one bitter pill that he found too hard to swallow.
FIFA has lifted its suspension on the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) after it approved constitutional amendments.
AIFF to name head coach on Aug 1; Jamil front-runner but Constantine not ruled out
Three shortlisted for Indian football team's coach role; Constantine, Jamil in the mix
Xavi, it is learnt, "sent an email from his own account" to apply for the post.
The Indian football team showed a lot of character and resilience in its title-winning Intercontinental Cup campaign and the attitude would be crucial to ensuring that the country doesn't just make up the numbers in next year's AFC Asian Cup, believes national coach Stephane Constantine.
National coach Stephen Constantine announced a list of 28 probables on Thursday for India's forthcoming 2018 World Cup preliminary joint qualification match against Iran.
India, currently ranked 132nd in the FIFA world rankings, have never played in the World Cup finals and kick off the latest phase of their attempt to qualify for the Asian Cup on Tuesday when they take on Myanmar in Yangon.
'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'
'I have always believed in building a 'team for the future'. Eventually, in a few years, these guys will represent India National Team. My eventual goal is to unearth some talents who'll be ready for the senior national team'
Kalyan Chaubey alluded to lack of goals from the Indian strikers, which he said could be one of the reasons for the poor show by the team under Manolo Marquez.
Bhutia and Chaubey have shared a history of verbal spats, with the former frequently questioning Chaubey's leadership, even calling the AIFF a "circus"
Coach Stephen Constantine says the Indian football team has done enough in the last few years to merit a decent crowd turnout, and begging for support was one thing it did not deserve.
The team is in Mumbai to prepare for the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying round match against Macau on October 11.
Englishman Stephen Constantine and New Zealander Ricki Herbert, have been short-listed to take over from Dutchman Wim Koevermans as the new coach of the national football team.
Constantine said silly individual errors cost India the match.
Star striker Sunil Chhetri is among a 28-strong Indian probable squad announced for the 2018 soccer World Cup preliminary qualifying round matches against Iran and Turkmenistan.
National football coach Stephen Constantine named 32 probables on Wednesday for India's upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup joint qualification Round 1 home and away matches against Nepal. India first host Nepal on March 12 at the Indira Gandhi Athletics Stadium in Sajusarai, Guwahati, while the return leg is slated to be played in Nepal on March 17.
