Guardiola, Mourinho together cannot save Indian football: Vukomanovic

Ivan Vukomanovic, former coach of Kerala Blasters, thinks even stalwarts such as Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho cannot shake up the Indian men's national team, which is going through a rough patch.

In an exclusive interview with A Hariprasad of Malayala Manorama, Vukomanovic got candid about what was wrong with Indian football and what needs to be done to fix it.

Vukomanovic was rumoured to be in contention to replace Manolo Marquez as the Indian head coach. But the big Serb has ruled himself out. "I'm a club coach. Right now, not even an ISL club is in my consideration," Vukomanovic said in the online interaction from Antwerp in Belgium.

What ails Indian football?
The Indian men's football team has not won a competitive fixture since November 2023, when they edged Kuwait 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier. 

A 3-0 friendly win over Maldives in March this year seemed to have put India back on track, but it turned out to be a mere illusion. In the last three fixtures, India lost twice and drew once, failing to score in all three. Most recently, the Men in Blue lost 0-1 to Hong Kong in a third round qualifier for the AFC Asian Cup.

"Indian football is crumbling," Vukomanovic said. "The solution is not for a coach to find; it lies in the football system. The Federation (All India Football Federation - AIFF) must change its ways. The first step to resolving an issue is to accept there is an issue.

"If the system remains unchanged, the senior team stands no chance for another 6-8 years. Even if Guardiola and Mourinho worked together, nothing will change with this team," Vukomanovic said.

Having worked three seasons with the Blasters, Vukomanovic has observed Indian football from close quarters. He has urged the policymakers to focus on the junior side. "Strengthen the Under-17, 19, and 21 sides, give them excellent training, and provide game experience. Such youngsters will emerge into quality seniors."

Isn't ISL doing that?
"Which ISL side develops young players after spotting their talent and providing years of training? Most of the clubs in the league prioritise reaching the playoffs and making money," Vukomanovic said.

He claimed that youth development that benefits Indian football cannot be found anywhere. "Belgium started something like this (youth development) in 2006. France launched it 10 years earlier. The Netherlands and Spain changed their policies 25 years ago. India has yet to take that path. As a result, Indian football is lagging way behind. Forget Europe; take the case of Asian sides such as Japan, Saudi (Arabia) and Qatar. India is way, way behind."

Where to start?
Vukomanovic holds a UEFA Pro Licence, the highest a coach can attain in Europe. "The starting point must be developing quality coaches. Good coaches spot talents and develop them to the level required for international exposure. That is what the Federation and ISL must do. Young players must be tried out in the senior teams with the focus on 4-6 years. Let the 'seniors' in the senior team retire. The AIFF must open a fresh chapter focused on the future," Vukomanvic said.