Indian women’s football’s freefall: Five coaches in five years, another one loading

New Delhi: Thomas Dennerby stepped down arsenic caput manager of the Indian women’s squad aft the Paris Olympics qualifiers, ending a two-year stint from 2021 to 2023. What followed was a revolving door: Langam Chaoba Devi (Jan–Sept 2024), Santosh Kashyap (Sept 2024–Jan 2025) and Crispin Chhetri (Jan 2025–Jan 2026).

There were besides interim stints for Suren Chhetri and Joakim Alexandersson, underlining the instability.Last year, contempt starring India to their archetypal AFC Women's Asia Cup qualification, connected merit, successful 23 years, Crispin was demoted and Amelia Valverde was roped successful by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

At the continental contention successful Australia, India mislaid each 3 of their matches: 1-2 vs Vietnam, 0-11 against Japan and desperately needing a win, 1-3 vs Chinese Taipei.

In the aftermath, a batch of soul-searching has begun. As with astir shot introspections, it has started with the axe falling connected the manager Valverde.AIFF method committee has recommended that Valverde's declaration not beryllium renewed. Instead, they've recommended looking astatine Indian options -- Anthony Andrews (of East Bengal) and ex-coach Crispin Chhetri -- arsenic 2 main contenders.TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the assignment is imminent with Crispin expected to get the motion successful the abbreviated run.

However, if giving coaches continuity was paramount, AIFF has failed to execute that. Questions indispensable besides beryllium asked of the Technical Committee implicit their decision-making with these stop-gap solutions.Costa Rican Valverde came with an awesome CV and acquisition astatine some state and club. However, it is the mode of assignment that didn't beryllium good with most, including the players. She had each of six weeks to nexus up with the players and bring successful her system.A method committee subordinate felt the six weeks were capable clip for Valverde to marque a difference, particularly considering her credentials. But the changeless alteration successful strategy and the demoralising nonaccomplishment to Japan proved important successful their determination not to proceed with her.

Amid off-the-field troubles specified arsenic irregular home league and haphazardly-arranged friendlies, this felt much similar a hopeful punt than a thought-through decision.

That hail mary didn't materialise arsenic those wrong AIFF expected."After the squad played and didn’t suffice for the adjacent stage, questions indispensable beryllium asked and answers sought from those liable for the bid of blunders concerning the squad arsenic it has caused immense embarrassment to the country,” wrote AIFF Executive Committee and Women's Football Committee subordinate Valanka Alemao successful an email to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey.“The method committee cleared the appointments without calling for immoderate database of prospective candidates to beryllium prepared oregon advertised, arsenic it happened portion choosing the manager for the women’s squad without immoderate cognition of the enforcement committee. "Where was the request to bring successful idiosyncratic truthful adjacent to the tournament, and what was the outgo of payments to each three,” asked Valanka.

Right earlier the tourney began, different contention deed erstwhile the wrong-sized kits were supplied to the squad and the coaching staff.

Last-ditch effort was enactment and kits were arranged done a section vendor. AIFF has initiated an probe into that fiasco.“Two days earlier the archetypal match, the players had to guarantee bizarre shocks. Questions indispensable beryllium raised and those who are liable for specified blunders that person brought shame to the federation indispensable beryllium taken to task,” added Valanka.Curiously, East Bengal's Anthony Andrews, however, hasn't been fixed the occupation contempt a beardown CV.

The AFC 'A' licence holder, Andrews took Gokulam Kerala to consecutive Indian Women's League (IWL) titles and East Bengal won the rubric past play nether him. He was considered arsenic an enactment aft Dennerby's exit successful 2023 but it didn't materialise.What sits against some Crispin Chhetri and Anthony Andrews, however, is the information that neither person a AFC Pro coaching license.Amid this renewed sentiment towards Indian coaches, the information that the U-17 and U-20 teams are helmed by foreigners cannot beryllium ignored.

Ex-Italy planetary Pamela Conti volition beryllium liable for India U-17 broadside astatine the Asian Cup successful May. Swede Joakim Alexandersson is the manager of the U-20 squad and volition pb astatine the Women's Asia Cup successful April.India's adjacent steps volition beryllium the FIFA International model successful April - with matches against Australia, Malawi and Kenya - and the SAFF Women’s Championship successful June.But, arsenic things stand, India women's shot squad are nary amended placed than wherever they were past year.