The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has come under fire after fresh reports from Spanish and European media outlets claimed that Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez never applied for the post of India’s national football team head coach, despite the AIFF’s earlier assertions.
The controversy erupted after the AIFF claimed that Xavi’s application had been turned down due to financial constraints. According to a Times of India report, national team director Subrata Paul confirmed that Xavi’s name had been among the applicants.
Subrata Paul told the media earlier, “Yes, Xavi’s name was there. The application was emailed to the AIFF.” He also said that the board would not have been able to meet the salary demands of the former Barcelona star.
However, renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano has refuted these claims, saying there was never any communication between Xavi and the Indian federation. Taking to X, Romano posted, “Despite recent reports, zero talks took place between Xavi Hernandez and the Indian Federation.”
Adding to the allegations, Spanish journalist Ferran Correas accused the AIFF of deliberately using Xavi’s name to draw more attention to the vacant head coach role.
Correas, quoted by the local media, stated, “People close to Xavi insist that he never applied for the head coach position of the Indian NT. They believe the All India Football Federation intentionally used his name to boost the profile of the role during their search for a new manager.”
The AIFF’s claim that Xavi was among the candidates came at a time when the federation is actively seeking a new head coach for the senior men’s team.
Other names reportedly in the fray include former India coach Stephen Constantine, Liverpool legend Harry Kewell, Kibu Vicuna, Eelco Schattorie, Khalid Jamil, Slovakia’s Stefa Tarkovic, and former Blackburn manager Steve Kean.
Xavi Hernandez, widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in football history, left an indelible mark on the sport during his playing days with Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
As a player, he lifted five La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey trophies, and three UEFA Champions League titles with Barcelona, contributing to two continental trebles. With Spain, he won the UEFA Euro in 2008 and 2012, as well as the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
After leaving Barcelona in 2015, Xavi joined Qatari club Al Sadd, where he won four trophies before hanging up his boots in 2019. He later returned to Barcelona as head coach, guiding them to the 2023 Supercopa de Espana and the 2022-23 La Liga title before stepping down earlier this year.
The fresh revelations have raised questions about the AIFF’s transparency and credibility as it searches for a suitable candidate to take charge of the national side.
While the federation has yet to respond to the international reports contradicting its earlier claim, the row has sparked dismay among Indian football fans, who feel they were misled about the prospect of a high-profile name like Xavi joining Indian football.
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