Madrid, Spain – The intriguing saga surrounding Xavi Hernandez and the Indian men’s national football team has seemingly concluded, with the Barcelona legend confirmed to not be taking over as head coach. Initial reports of his application for the role have been largely overshadowed by subsequent confirmations that his candidacy wasn’t pursued, primarily due to significant financial hurdles.
Xavi’s Brief Link to India
The football world was abuzz when news first emerged that a figure of Xavi’s stature had applied for the India coaching job. The All India Football Federation (AIFF)’s national team director, Subrata Paul, even confirmed receiving Xavi’s application directly via his personal email. This development hinted at an ambitious, albeit surprising, move by the Indian federation to attract a high-profile manager.
Xavi, a World Cup winner in 2010 and a two-time Euro champion as a player with Spain, has a decorated coaching career too. He led Qatari club Al Sadd to league titles before returning to his beloved Barcelona, where he secured the 2022-23 La Liga title and the 2023 Spanish Super Cup before his departure in 2024.
Financial Reality Checks His Candidacy
Despite the initial excitement, the AIFF’s technical committee ultimately did not shortlist Xavi. Federation officials and media reports consistently cited the prohibitive financial cost as the main reason. A technical committee member was quoted stating, “Even if Xavi was genuinely interested in Indian football and could be convinced to take up the job, we would need a lot of money.”
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
The story, however, gained another layer with conflicting reports from prominent international football journalists. Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano explicitly stated that “zero talks took place between Xavi Hernandez and Indian Federation” despite the recent news. Similarly, Spanish journalist Ferran Correas, citing sources close to Xavi, suggested that the former Barca coach never actually applied for the position. Correas even speculated that the AIFF might have “intentionally used Xavi’s name to boost the profile of the role” during their managerial search.
Regardless of the precise truth behind his application, the outcome is clear: Xavi will not be the next coach of the Indian national team
India’s Coaching Search Continues
The AIFF’s search for a new head coach began after Manolo Marquez stepped down earlier this month. The federation reportedly received around 170 applications, including other well-known names like former Liverpool stars Robbie Fowler and Harry Kewell, and ex-Blackburn boss Steve Kean.
The technical committee has now recommended three candidates to the AIFF executive committee for final approval:
- Stephen Constantine (former India coach)
- Stefan Tarkovic (Slovakia coach)
- Khalid Jamil (the sole Indian contender)
The final decision rests with the AIFF executive committee as India looks to reverse its fortunes and improve its FIFA ranking, which recently dropped to 133, its lowest in nine years.8 Xavi, meanwhile, remains available for his next coaching role, reportedly seeking a project with a clear long-term vision to build a competitive squad.
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