Former Punjab FC coach Staikos Vergetis applies for Indian football team head coach role
After leading Punjab FC to a milestone achievement in the form of I-League 2022-23 triumph and a subsequent promotion to the Indian Super League, Punjab FC parted ways with their head coach Staikos Vergetis. However, just after a few days after leaving Punjab, Vergetis has now applied for the head coach role at the Indian football team, Sportskeeda can exclusively confirm.
A source tracking the developments informed Sportskeeda this evening:
"Staikos Vergetis has fallen in love with India and has now shown interest in the national team head coach role. He has applied for the role as well and wants to take charge after the AIFF parted ways with Igor Stimac."
Staikos Vergetis has been a part of the Indian football vertical since 2022 after taking charge at Punjab FC. In his debut campaign, he surpassed every obstacle to win the I-League and help the Shers become the first club to gain promotion to the Indian Super League, after the promotion-scheme was introduced by the stakeholders.
However, Punjab didn't enjoy a brilliant start to the ISL 2023-24 campaign, as was expected from a new team. That said, compared to other ISL outfits who in recent times joined the Indian Super League, Punjab FC had a much better outing as they looked like a rejuvenated side in the second leg of the campaign to ultimately finish eighth.
Moreover, they ended their ISL season, with a thumping win over East Bengal at home but unfortunately in front of zero spectators, due to certain regulations imposed on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi.
AIFF bid adieu to Igor Stimac
After nearly five years of association, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) decided to part ways with their senior men's team head coach Igor Stimac. Stimac, who had brilliant 2022 and 2023 calendar years with the Blue Tigers, saw his team suffer utmost humiliation at the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year. The team failed to salvage a single goal and even a single point at the continental showpiece.
The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in March and June added to Stimac's misery as his side failed to register a single win and even lost out to Afghanistan at home, before suffering an allegedly controversial defeat to Qatar in their last game.
The performance in recent times is what propelled the AIFF hierarchy to take a decision on Stimac's future at the helm of the Indian football team.