• Source:JND
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Ex-Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez had applied for the role of the head coach of the Indian football team, but AIFF's technical committee rejected his application. He was the manager of Barcelona between 2021 and 2024, but was forced to step down by the board owing to their trophyless stint last year. The Indian football team had reviewed about 170 applications this week for the position, and of these, three candidates were finalised- Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Takovic.

Xavi, who has also coached the Qatari team Al Sadd between 2019 and 2021, was one of the top candidates to have contested for the position. As per the Times of India report, the AIFF didn't consider Xavi due to the financial terms.

Xavi, who is the sport's best midfielder, has clinched eight La Liga titles and won four UEFA Champions Leagues with Barcelona. He also played a huge role in helping Spain win the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 UEFA and Euro.

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After giving 24 years to the club, Xavi left Barcelona and joined Al Sadd, where he ended his career in 2019, and during the same year, became the head coach of the side. He then rejoined Barcelona in 2021 and replaced Ronald Koeman as the head coach.

After three years, Barcelona president Joan Laporta had sacked him.

At the same time, the AIFF had finalised three candidates for the position by holding a virtual meeting.

The CVs of these candidates would be reviewed, and then a decision would be made as to who would replace Manolo Marquez, who was sacked as Team India's head coach by AIFF.

"For the Indian national head coach, the technical committee sent its chairperson, I.M. Vijayan, who held a meeting with the members yesterday. Out of the 170 applicants who came from the country and abroad, three were shortlisted. After that, according to the rules of our constitution, we have to call an EC," Kalyan Chaubey was quoted as saying to ANI.

"There will probably be a notice for an emergency EC. In the next seven or eight days, this meeting will take place. And in the meeting, it will be decided which of the three is appointed as the head coach of the country. This is how the coaches of the national team will be selected," he concluded.