The Indian U-17 women’s football team has added a proven winner to its coaching staff. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has appointed Anthony Andrews as assistant coach of the India U-17 women’s national team, with Joakim Alexandersson continuing as head coach.
Andrews will perform the national-team assignment alongside his existing role as head coach of East Bengal FC’s women’s side. The move gives the Young Tigresses access to a coach who has built an impressive record in Indian women’s club football and has considerable experience in developing young players.
A coach with a record of winning
Andrews arrives at the national setup at a particularly strong point in his career. He is the most successful coach in Indian Women’s League history, having won four IWL titles.
His championship journey began with Gokulam Kerala, where he guided the team to consecutive league titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. He then continued that success with East Bengal, leading the club to back-to-back IWL championships in 2024-25 and 2025-26.
That record makes Andrews the only coach to have won multiple IWL championships four times, giving him a unique understanding of what it takes to build consistent success in women’s football.
Continental success adds to his credentials
Andrews’ recent achievements have not been restricted to domestic competitions.
Under his guidance, East Bengal secured a victory in the preliminary stage of the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026-27 in Malaysia. The result helped the club become the first Indian women’s side to reach the Champions League group stage in consecutive seasons. East Bengal had also become the first Indian women’s club to win a match in the competition’s group stage during the previous season.
Andrews also guided the Moshal Girls to the SAFF Women’s Club Championship title last December, further strengthening his reputation as one of the leading coaches in Indian women’s football.
Immediate test awaits in Tashkent
The appointment comes at an important stage in India U-17 women’s preparations.
Andrews has already joined the Young Tigresses in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, where India are scheduled to play two international friendly matches against Uzbekistan on August 27 and August 30. The games are intended to provide valuable competitive preparation ahead of the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup China 2027 qualifying campaign.
India’s qualification campaign will take place in Malaysia from October 5 to 11. The Young Tigresses have been placed in Group E alongside Malaysia, Syria and Iraq.
Why Andrews’ appointment matters
The addition of Andrews is more than simply another coaching change. His experience covers both senior and youth women’s football, giving the national setup another coach familiar with player development, talent identification and high-performance environments.
His recent work at East Bengal has also demonstrated an ability to combine youth development with immediate results. That balance could prove particularly valuable for an U-17 side whose priority is not only qualifying for the Asian Cup but also developing players capable of progressing into India’s senior women’s team.
Andrews has previously worked with players who went on to represent India at youth and senior levels. His focus now will be on transferring that experience to the Young Tigresses and helping the next generation handle the demands of international football.
Andrews: Focus on developing India’s next generation
Speaking about the appointment, Andrews expressed his gratitude to the AIFF and highlighted the responsibility of working with young Indian footballers.
He also pointed to his experience in player development and talent identification, while stressing his intention to bring the professionalism and high-performance standards that have helped East Bengal achieve recent success.
For India, the timing could hardly be more significant. With the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers approaching, the team needs preparation, consistency and a clear pathway for its emerging talent.
Key Points
Appointment: Anthony Andrews named India U-17 women’s assistant coach.
Head coach: Joakim Alexandersson remains in charge.
Club role: Andrews will continue as East Bengal FC women’s head coach.
IWL titles: 4 — two with Gokulam Kerala and two with East Bengal.
Recent achievement: East Bengal reached the AFC Women’s Champions League group stage for consecutive seasons.
Current location: Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Upcoming friendlies: India U-17 Women vs Uzbekistan on August 27 and August 30.
AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers: October 5–11 in Malaysia.
India’s qualifying group: Group E — Malaysia, Syria, Iraq and India.
The bigger picture
Anthony Andrews’ appointment gives India’s U-17 women’s team a coach arriving with a winning pedigree and a clear understanding of the domestic women’s football ecosystem.
The immediate objective is qualification, but the larger opportunity is to build a stronger bridge between India’s youth and senior women’s football. With a four-time IWL-winning coach now working alongside Alexandersson, the Young Tigresses will hope that this new combination can turn preparation into progress when the qualifiers arrive in October.
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