Mumbai: Two men who possess experience of having coached in India as well as at the international level, 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.
Constatine, 52, who coached India between 2002 and 2005, and 53-year-old Herbert, former New Zealand coach who guided North East United FC in the Indian Super League that concluded yesterday, were identified to take over the mantle by the All India Football Federation’s technical committee at its meeting here on Sunday.
The panel, headed by former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, has also recommended Australian Scott O’Donnell — AIFF’s Academy instructor — to take over the mantle of AIFF’s Technical Director, a post which is lying vacant after the departure of Dutchman Rob Baans.
“We had a very good discussion over who should take over as coach of the senior team. Rob Baans had recommended that whoever takes over should know Indian football and should also have coached a team at the international level.
“Both Stephen and Ricki fulfil that criteria we would be speaking to both of them and then decide on who gets the job in the next 3-4 days,” Bhutia told reporters after the technical committee meeting. (PTI)