Igor Stimac – Opening Heart and Hearth to Indian Football

Igor Stimac (Photo: AIFF)

For us in India to win a World Cup football medal is still a pipe dream. For someone to have won it means a lot. Igor Stimac was part of the famed Croatian national team that stunned the world into silence in 1998 on the way to becoming the third best football team in the world. In fact, in the semi-final they were very much in the game till the end of the first-half. Stimac was a key member of the team and thereafter had a stellar career in the EPL as well. For West Ham and Derby County, he has played many memorable games and made his mark.

 

As a coach, he has many laurels to his name. He coached the Croatian national team which included the likes of Luka Modric. It was a pleasant surprise when he accepted the Indian coaching job and may we say the start wasn’t smooth. India weren’t performing well and Stimac was in the firing line. After the first few years in the job, Stimac started ringing in the changes. India started to compete and things changed in Indian football. Three back-to-back trophies in 2023 and the hope was high. A failed Asian Games and a failed AFC campaign have yet again put the pressure back on Stimac.

Also Read: Sumit Antil – Turning Challenges into Opportunities

The World Cup qualifiers will perhaps decide which way Indian football is headed. Can India make the third round for the first time ever? Or will it all end sour? Either Stimac will turn things around and make history or Indian football will take a backward step one more time.

Stimac cares for Indian football. He has improved the players. Also, he talks logic, when he says the national team needs longer camps before international tournaments. At this level, to get the desired result, longer camps are needed.

With the sport at a crossroads, it will be fascinating to hear Igor Stimac at the Trailblazers conclave.

For more sports related information CLICK HERE- https://revsportz.in/category/editorial/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *