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Indian football head coach Igor Stimac has once again voiced his concerns about the state of the sport in the country, criticising the lack of progress in developing homegrown talent.

 

The Croatian coach, who has been at the helm since 2019, blamed the over-reliance on foreign players and the failure to establish a robust footballing structure as key reasons behind India’s struggles on the international stage.

 

Stimac, who guided India to their first-ever third-round appearance in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, expressed his frustration at the absence of a clear vision for the sport’s growth. He warned that without urgent reforms, Indian football would continue to lag behind other Asian nations.

 

“The biggest problem is that we do not have a structured plan to develop our own players,” Stimac said. “We are too reliant on foreign footballers in the Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League, which limits opportunities for local talent to shine at the highest level.”

 

The coach also stressed the importance of allowing Indian-origin players based abroad to represent the national team. He pointed out that several countries, including Australia and Japan, have successfully strengthened their squads by integrating diaspora players into their national teams.

 

“If India wants to compete with the best in Asia, we need to change our approach. We must open the doors for Indian-origin footballers playing in Europe and other regions,” Stimac added.

 

Another major issue raised by the Croatian is the short domestic football season in India. Unlike European leagues that run for nearly ten months, the ISL lasts only for around six, leaving players with limited game time. This, according to Stimac, negatively impacts their match fitness and tactical development.

 

“Footballers need regular competition to improve, but in India, the season is too short. The players spend more time training than actually playing competitive football, which is not ideal for their growth,” he remarked.

 

Stimac’s comments have once again sparked debate about the state of Indian football, with many agreeing that structural changes are necessary. However, whether these concerns will lead to actual reforms remains uncertain.