The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday announced Khalid Jamil’s appointment as the new head coach of the Indian men’s football team. The announcement comes following a rigorous selection process conducted throughout last month; Jamil will succeed Manolo Marquez in the role.

“The AIFF Executive Committee, in the presence of the Technical Committee, has approved the appointment of Khalid Jamil as the new head coach of the Senior India Men’s National Team,” the AIFF wrote in a post on X.

Jamil becomes the first Indian in over a decade to take charge of the senior side. His predecessor, Marquez, parted ways with the side last month after a string of underwhelming results. The last Indian to hold the post was Savio Medeira, who led the team from 2011 to 2012.

Jamil was most recently the head coach of Indian Super League team Jamshedpur FC, with whom he finished fifth in the 2024/25 season. He also remains the only Indian coach to qualify for playoffs in the ISL, achieving the feat with the NorthEast United in the 2020/21 season.

He has played as a midfielder for India in 40 matches. Jamil transitioned to coaching in 2009 with a six-year stint with now-defunct Mumbai Football Club before joining Aizawl FC in the I-League.

The 48-year-old also undertook the managerial role in both footballing giants of the country, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.