Igor Stimac is in the news. Even after steering India to three trophies in the past few weeks, the best phase for Indian football in a long time, the high-profile coach isn’t happy. While he feels a sense of vindication, in that the hard work the team has put in as a collective has paid off, he also thinks that unless plans are put in place and done so immediately, India will not be able to make the most of the gains emerging from the SAFF win. And despite the country hailing his work as coach, he is ready to put in his papers unless there is a collective buy-in from the AIFF, and unless a plan is agreed on for the next four years, which will fast-track Indian football on the path of growth.
In this hour-long conversation, Stimac was as candid as he could be, and answered every question directly without trying to be diplomatic or politically correct. Clearly, and he agrees with this assessment, it is his most detailed and most revelatory interview.
Excerpts:
Boria: The whole country is still rejoicing over the victory, but you don’t seem to be satisfied. Do you think we are overdoing it, or will you agree that it is a sign of resurgence?
Stimac: I will answer your question in very simple terms. When I took the job four years ago, there was a dream. It was just a dream, for there was no hope. No one believed things could change. We did not have much hope about the future. While a lot of people have helped on the way, and I must thank all of them, we are finally seeing a ray of hope. This victory has finally brought us all together on the same page. People are seeing what is possible and what can be done. That our football can indeed do well is finally being recognised. But that’s what it is. A ray of hope. Unless we build on this opportunity and take the story forward, it could soon be a thing of the past and another opportunity lost. So the time is now if you know what I mean.
Boria: Your contract is up for renewal in February 2024. We have the Asian Cup in January. You have just said the time is now. So tell me clearly what you mean by this? Do you not want to continue, or are you agreeable to staying on?
Stimac: Again, I will answer your question in simple terms. I am not in this for money. In the last few years, I have received many offers which are far more financially lucrative and could have earned me more money for myself and the family. I am in this for a cause. To help Indian football grow. And to be able to do that, we need to put a few steps in place. When I started, it was as if people did not want to put these steps in place. Despite getting me on board to help Indian football, the attempt was to pull me down to your level and your policies, rather than following my vision and getting better. If India has to rival the best Asian teams and get better, we need to follow a certain path. We need to make sacrifices.
And I am working on a series of presentations for the AIFF. I have promised the President, who is a very good, able and passionate man that I will send him the presentations, which will summarise my work over the last four years and outline my vision for the next four years and then speak to him. I am almost done with the presentations and will be sending things to the AIFF in the next five-six days and then seek an urgent meeting with them. If we have to travel this journey together, we need to agree to a plan for the next four years. And we have to do it now. Not in September, not in January, but now.
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Given the situation and the commitments to stakeholders, it is clear that we won’t have much time with the national team in September, October or November. So we will not be adequately ready for the Asian Cup in January. We might still play well, might resist but that’s not playing to our full potential. And I am not willing to be judged by one match. Because after four years of hard work, it will all boil down to the Asian Cup and a bad result will mean people will say, Nah. And I am not ready for that. So we need to act now. Either, we do this together for the next four years, or I am happy to put in my papers and walk away without a word.
Boria: Let me get this straight. You are saying you aren’t ready to wait till January to negotiate. You want a plan firmed up now. In the next few weeks. And if that’s done, you are in for four years. But if that’s not done, you are ready to leave.
Stimac: My contract is a very loose one. All I need to do is give a 60-day notice and walk away. You can’t hold me back. And as I said, I am not in this for money. I have now seen what we can do. What India can do with its football. And I know football. That’s the only thing I know. So we need to agree on some things, and do so now. With the World Cup qualification cycle on, it is important that India has a coach who will steer the team through the cycle. It is not fair on the team or the new coach, whoever that may be, that he takes charge when the cycle has already started. And it is not fair on me that I am judged on the basis of performances in one tournament or one match. So it is better for all of us to sit down and collectively decide what we want. Either we do this together and win this together, or I walk away wishing Indian football all the very best for the future.
Boria: Strong words, coach. But let me say here that I had a chat with President Kalyan Chaubey and he mentioned to me that he had spoken to you that night in Bengaluru and explained that there are certain compulsions like the FIFA windows. Having said that, Kalyan is determined to do whatever is possible while keeping in mind the binding obligations.
Stimac: Yes, I did speak to the President, and may I tell you, I like him a lot. We were sitting in the VIP gallery together in Bengaluru, and I could see the passion in his eyes. He is good for Indian football. But tell me something, if teams like Saudi Arabia, Iran and Japan can stop the national league for a month and a half for the national team, what stops India from doing so? Why is it that the ISL has to be finished by March? Clearly, football can’t hurt the popularity of Indian cricket or the IPL. Cricket is already there.
What stops us from continuing the ISL till May, if need be, like in all Western countries where the league is played till May? Why can’t the two be played together for a month or more? We need time with the national team to be able to do wonders with it. We need to improve as a collective. We need to understand this and do it. If other Asian teams have done this in the past, and I know it because I have been part of such set-ups, there is no reason why India can’t do this. These teams have now reached a stage where they can use the FIFA windows. India is still two notches below Iran or Saudi or Japan, so we need to do what they have done in the past. If that entails a slightly radical call, so be it.
Boria: Two final questions, coach. One is on Sunil Chhetri. Everyone is asking how long Sunil is going to play? When will he retire? I have read that you want him to play for as long as you are the coach of India. What are your thoughts on Sunil Chhetri?
Stimac: Sunil Chhetri is playing the best football of his life, and is at his fittest best. So do you want someone to retire when he is at his best and playing his best? Why is all this talk happening? Yes, in the last two years, Sunil could have had some issues at club level. But he is over all that, and is playing some of the best football he has ever played. Look at his fitness and passion and commitment. I am very clear. He is the best we have. And best for a reason. So it is foolish for me to not use our best. There can be no debate on this whatsoever, and I hope it is put to bed once and for all.
Boria: I have to tell you one thing. When the final was going into extra-time, I was feeling angry about you getting the red card. I was like: why did you do it? If we did not win, I, and I am sure many like me, would have blamed you. How do you see the red cards in hindsight?
Stimac: May I please tell you something? Coaching isn’t done in the 90 minutes of play. If I had to coach my boys then, we would have lost anyway. And let me also tell you something. I will do what I did as many number of times I need to if it helps my team. Over the last four years, I have seen hundreds of occasions when referees have given decisions against the Indian football team. And I don’t know why, may be it is a colonial thing, you all are real nice people who tend to accept these decisions without protest. I don’t see you all give it back and resist. I needed my boys to resist. Protest against every kind of wrongdoing. Say no to wrong decisions. And for that reason, if Igor Stimac has to be red-carded, I am perfectly happy doing it.
For the first red card, [Pritam] Kotal was fouled in front of me and was thrown out of the touch line. The referee did not say a thing. I will not let my player be fouled and beaten up, and stay quiet. I will not. Whatever you think of me, you are welcome. And the second red card was planned. It is because I had tweeted that if needed, I will do it again. We have people who have seen the referees discuss that the Indian coach needs to be put in place. So it was expected. But what it did was it ignited my team.
During the final, it was a different India on the pitch. Each time there was a wrong call, my players protested and circled the referee and put him under pressure. We were a changed team. A new India, and that’s what I want to see. We need much better referees at the Asian level, and I will not let them get away by punishing India for no reason for a single more day.
Boria: One final question I need to ask you. While we all loved the crowd, and it was fantastic to see 26,380 people sing Vande Mataram together, what I did not like was a lot of fans were in their club colours. Wasn’t it about India? I’d like your thoughts on it.
Stimac: I have already discussed this issue with some of the key members in the AIFF. Let me first say that I appreciate every fan who was there. It takes a lot to come out and support your team. And a lot of fans had come in from Kolkata, from Kerala and from other states. But my request to them is you are coming in to support your country. Not your club. So the only flag that there can be in the stadium during an India game is the Indian national flag. No other flag deserves to be there. Yes, you can surely mention where you are from, but you can’t flaunt your club colours during an India game. That’s a divisive act. Football unites India. Sport does. And this win has shown us all what football is capable of.
We should all be playing for the flag. And every fan should be there supporting the flag. Club doesn’t really matter. When we play for Croatia, for example, supporters from every city go to the games in droves. But each one of them wears the Croatian jersey. In one corner is written who they are and where they are from, but none of them wear anything but the Croatian jersey and carry the Croatian flag. That’s what we need in India as well.
Boria: That was a real good chat, coach. I do hope there is a buy-in with your vision and this dream, which has now moved to hope stage, continues for the next four years. We have the potential and the means. We now need things to happen.
Stimac: I hope so too, and as I said, I am in it for the hard grind. I am available, and want to be part of this growth story.
Also Read: 26000 fans singing Vande Mataram together is a sign of Indian football’s resurgence.