File photo of Sunil Chhetri© AFP

Igor Stimac, the former head coach of the Indian football team, has called Indian football “imprisoned” in a scathing attack after his sacking. Stimac was sacked after India failed to qualify for the third round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Now, in a virtual press conference, Stimac has gone all out, throwing a number of accusations at the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the administrators in charge of Indian football. Stimac also revealed his personal health problems suffered during his tenure.

Indian football is ‘imprisoned’

“Your football (Indian football) is imprisoned. It will take a couple of decades for things to improve, which I don’t see happening,” said Stimac.

“My senior players already knew that I had decided to leave, even if we qualified for the third round. It was impossible for me to continue without proper support, full of lies and people who only have private interests,” he added.

“The AIFF’s biggest achievement in the last five years was keeping me quiet,” Stimac said.

Attack on AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey

Stimac lashed out at AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, stating that they never had a working relationship.

“The president of the AIFF gets pictures clicked with people in important positions for social media. Kalyan (Chaubey) only cares about being popular,” said a fuming Stimac.

“Me and Kalyan never had a relationship. I reported to the secretary general. The president doesn’t indulge,” he added.

“The people in AIFF don’t know how to run a football house. They only care about power,” said Stimac.

“Sooner Kalyan Chaubey leave, Indian football stands a chance,” Stimac said.

Heart surgery

Stimac further revealed that he had to undergo an urgent heart operation due to stress put on him, as the AIFF had given him time till the Asian Cup.

“When I received the final warning on December 2. no one knows this, I finished in the hospital. I was disturbed with everything going on; stressed from the obvious problems. I had an immediate surgery on my heart. I wasn’t ready to speak to anyone or find excuses. I was ready to put myself on the line to prepare my team for the Asian Cup to give the best shot,” Igor Stimac said in the press conference on Friday, June 21.

India’s qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended after a controversial 2-1 defeat to Qatar, where an illegal Qatar goal was allowed to stand by the referee.

AIFF responds

It has come to our attention that former India men’s team head coach Mr. Igor Stimac has made certain remarks in the media pertaining to functioning of the All India Football Federation and some of its senior officials. The AIFF will issue a statement in this regards in the next 48 hours.

Indian football team coach Igor Stimac on Sunday said the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait could “change the careers” of his players and described it as a “huge game”. India will take on Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium in their penultimate second-round game, which will be followed by the away match against Qatar on June 11. Despite their shocking loss to lower-ranked Afghanistan in the home leg match in Guwahati in March, India can still make a maiden entry into the third round of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

“It’s a huge game. The careers of the boys can change with this game. I want them to enjoy and do their best in the game,” Stimac told the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

India, who slipped to 121 in the FIFA rankings after gaining just a solitary point in their two meetings with Afghanistan in March, will look to put up a much better display against Kuwait in what will also be talisman Sunil Chhetri’s farewell from international football.

“For such an important game, we need to do a few things; in regards to strength conditioning, in regards to understanding what it needs, in regards to how important this game is, and in regards to mental strength and self-confidence.

“So, we work on all aspects needed for our boys to be on top of their form in this game.” The head coach added: “There are two key points for the preparations for this game. First, winning the game is crucial. And to reach that target, we need to be very clever. We need to understand that in the game, we require patience.

“If we don’t open the scoring in the first half an hour, we need to be intelligent and play quality football together with pace. All these aspects are very important and we have to prepare for them.” The Blue Tigers are winless in six matches and have scored just a goal in these games.

In the last one year, India met Kuwait three times. It includes the victory in a tiebreaker in the SAFF Championship final in Bangalore.

“Each of those matches was very tough and I can clearly state that we controlled all those games in superb ways,” Stimac said.

“We dominated for the bigger parts in each one of these games. We were above them physically. But on other occasions, before the Kuwait games, we had many games that helped us reach that level.

“But it is a different game now because they are coming here when we didn’t have the opportunity to play games. No league is being played now, no club is available. But we did play two games between us to reach the intensity we required.

“And I need to tell you that the boys were superb in those two games. I am very happy with them; happy with everything that was done in the last three weeks,” the coach added.

Asked if he was missing anything that could have added value to the side, Stimac said, “I don’t have the right to think about it. We have to focus on what we have. What we can do and what can be improved.

“In the final week, we are concentrating on set pieces, offensive tactics, and a few details regarding the shape, team composure, and speed of passing. That’s all.” PTI AH AH TAP

Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri arrives at the NSCBI Airport in Kolkata, on May 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Approaching his international retirement, Indian football talisman Sunil Chhetri on Wednesday said he remains indebted to his teammates, and the sport, for helping him become one of the country’s greatest players.

The Indian team arrived in the city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait on June 6, which will be the 39-year-old Chhetri’s final outing in the blue jersey.

All eyes were on the goal-machine as the players exited the airport.

Dilemma

“These last few days, I’ve been caught in a bit of a dilemma.

“Now that there’s a number to my days with the national team, what’s the right route to take — do I count every day, every training session? Or do I simply turn up without the thought of how this is coming to an end?” said Chhetri.

Chhetri, who has scored 94 goals from 150 international appearances, said he is counting his blessings every day.

“Over time, I seemed to have found middle ground. They say, count your blessings. And every single day I get to be on the pitch is a blessing that I’ve never taken for granted. So I’ve decided to count my sessions, but with a deep sense of gratitude. There’s no apprehension. Instead, there’s a feeling of being indebted to the sport, to my team, that I get to do this.

“If I could, I would capture this feeling in a box. Or instead, I’ll take it to my next training session.”

Any India match in the City of Joy draws much fanfare. However, this is not just any international game.

Earn three points, and the Blue Tigers will take a giant leap towards a first-ever appearance in Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, while also inching closer to automatic qualification for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.

Chhetri had earlier this month announced that June 6 will be his last appearance in the international arena.

After Bhubneswar, the India number 11 and the other 26 around him will continue their training camp in Kolkata, where they will have their first on-field training session on Thursday.

Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac expects fans from all over the country to throng the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata during the country’s World Cup qualification match against Kuwait on June 6, which will also be the last international match for talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri. The match against Kuwait will mark the end of Chhetri’s glittering 19-year international career during which he became India’s top goal-scorer with 94 strikes. He will leave the scene as India’s most-capped player after competing in 151 matches at the end of his swansong contest.

A win against Kuwait will also put India in a strong position to make it to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time in its history.

“Having in mind the importance of the game — with us being perhaps only a win away from qualifying for the third round for the first time, and it being Sunil Chhetri’s farewell game — we expect the Salt Lake Stadium to be packed,” Stimac said.

“I am sure that our supporters will reach Kolkata from all parts of India to help our boys win the game and say thanks and goodbye to Sunil. I am very confident it’s going to be emotional and hopefully, we will find a way to celebrate together after the final whistle,” he said in a release from All India Football Federation.

The team has been in a training camp here for almost two weeks now. The opening week was predominantly focused on gaining fitness levels as the players entered the back end of a busy season. It involved several physical tests and aerobic sessions.

“The boys are doing well. It has been proven more than once that a long camp always helps us. We are working on various aspects of the game, both offensive and defensive,” said the head coach.

“Our fitness levels are getting better each day, and now we enter the phase of working on our tactics. From Monday onwards, we are going to work on positioning, set pieces and transitions.” The Blue Tigers were originally supposed to depart for Kolkata on June 2, but have advanced their travel to the West Bengal capital on May 29 to get a full week of stay in the city and adjust to the conditions better.

“It’s obviously hot and humid here, but we enjoy every training session. The facilities and hospitality are amazing here. But still, we have decided to leave for Kolkata a few days earlier than planned so we can adjust to the humidity better and prepare for the crucial game,” said Stimac. PTI PDS AM PDS AM AM

I instinctively felt that I needed to leave the national team, and I am doing so at a time when there are so many good players waiting to take my place, says Chhetri.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Sunil Chhetri prefers to be remembered as a hard-working footballer who gave his best for the country. This is what the owner of a record 150 caps for India had to say a day after announcing that he will retire from international football after the second round match (of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers) against Kuwait. The match will be played at the Salt Lake Stadium here on June 6.

“When people think about me, I should be remembered as a hard-working person. I could play 150 matches because of it. A lot of attributes are required for a player to do well, but this is one characteristic that I want to leave behind me,” Chhetri said during a media interaction on Friday.

Sunil Chhetri’s Indian national team career and achievements | In pictures

“And of course I want to be remembered as the most good-looking player too,” he added with a chuckle when asked about the legacy he wished to leave behind.

The India captain said that he never aspired for records and was happy contributing to the national team for 19 years.

“I am filled with gratitude and have no hollow feelings as when I started my journey with the Indian team I never thought I would be scoring these many goals. At no point did I think of scoring 100 because it was never a part of any planning or dream. I am really fortunate that I could play 150 matches and could score 94 goals for my country,” he said.

Chhetri said that the decision was more instinctive and had nothing to do with fitness. “I was fighting within and analysing every day. Ten to fifteen days after the match against Afghanistan (March 26) I decided to retire. It is of prime importance that I bring value to the team.

Sunil Chhetri wants to now focus on doing well for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League Season.
| Photo Credit:
K. MURALI KUMAR

“Sometimes it may happen that I am carried by the team, and that is something I never wanted. I instinctively felt that I needed to leave the national team, and I am doing so at a time when there are so many good players waiting to take my place,” he said.

Chhetri said that his next focus is on doing well for Bengaluru FC in the next ISL season.

As Sunil Chhetri sat contemplating how he would break his retirement plans to the world, he knew there was one man who would understand what exactly he was going through and Virat Kohli did not disappoint the iconic Indian football captain. The 39-year-old Chhetri, the most capped India footballer with 150 matches to his credit and the country’s top-scorer with 94 goals, will hang up his boots after the World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait on June 6 in Kolkata. Chhetri’s announcement came on Thursday, driven by, what he described as, rather inexplicable instincts. And he chose Kohli as one of his confidantes before going public with his decision.

“I did talk to Virat Kohli before my retirement decision, he is very close to me. I discussed with him because we both understand that we would know this thing exactly the way it is,” Chhetri said in an online media interaction from Bhubaneswar where he is currently part of a national camp for the World Cup qualifiers.

“The ups and downs of sports, this part of retirement, we do understand that the other person would understand,” he added, trying to describe in words the deep bond they have shared over the years.

Earlier on Friday, Kohli had acknowledged the communication from Chhetri and stated that his fellow Delhiite was at peace with the decision.

“He (Chhetri) is a really great player. He actually messaged me as well informing that he’s going to do that. But I would actually say I felt like he is at peace with the decision,” Kohli said in a short video interview on his IPL side Royal Challengers Benagluru’s ‘X’ page.

“I have become very close with him over the years and I wish the best. He is a lovely, lovely guy.” Chhetri and Kohli have often spoken about each other fondly with the former stating that they share jokes and also some deep and meaningful chats whenever they catch up.

“…it just hits the right note,” Chhetri had stated in an earlier interaction.

Kohli was among the first to offer support to Chhetri when he made an emotional plea to fans to show up for the national footballers during the 2018 Hero Cup in Mumbai.

Kohli later described Chhetri as “a man I can call a true friend.” “Very grateful for the friendship we have skip,” he had stated on Chhetri’s birthday in 2022.

Vamika has started batting: Kohli

Kohli, besides talking about Chhetri, also informed that his daughter Vamika has recently started swinging the bat but said he would never force his kids to take up cricket.

Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma recently also welcomed a son, Akaay after the birth of Vamika in 2021.

“My daughter picked up a bat and she is really enjoying swinging the bat. But it’s their choice,” he said.

RCB are currently placed sixth in the IPL standings with 12 points from 13 games and will take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings in a must-win match here on Friday.

RCB made a remarkable comeback with five straight wins after enduring a six-game losing streak to stay afloat in the play-off race. “The month of May has been very good. We found a ray of sunlight. We are glad that we have made the fans happy again,” Kohli said of their fightback.

After taking the footballing world by surprise with the news of his retirement, ace India marksman Sunil Chhetri mapped out his retirement plans saying he wanted to leave behind a legacy as a good-looking and hard-working player. The India captain on Thursday said he would don the national jersey one last time in an international fixture against Kuwait on June 6. The match will provide him one last opportunity to play in front of his adoring home fans at the Salt Lake Stadium before he brings the curtains down on a 19-year-long career.

Talking about the legacy that he will leave behind, Chhetri said he wants people to remember him as a hard-working and good-looking player.

“I never paid any heed, I think about the legacy the one thing that I will always remember is to work hard most good-looking player. A very good-looking and hard-working player. One legacy and when they remember me, they should think I was hard working player. That’s one thing, I want to leave behind me, is a hard-working player and a good-looking person,” Chhetri said in a media interaction.

The 39-year-old underlined that it wasn’t easy for him to take the decision but he is at peace with it. He said it was a difficult decision over the last few months that the forthcoming game would be his last for the country.

“I think it took quite a while i was fighting within me I was trying to think more holistically, when the instinct came it was so narrow, I was taking time, it wasn’t easy, but I am at peace with my decision, got more than what I had dreamt of” he added.

Chhetri mapped out his after-retirement plans and said after leaving the national side on June 6 he will spend a lot of time with his family.

“On June 6 is when I retire. On June 7 I will spend a lot of time crying while on the 8th I will relax, after June 8 I will take a break and I will stay with my family,” he added.

Earlier while announcing his retirement, Chhetri reminisced the first time he was called up to represent the national side.

“There is one day that I never forget and remember it quite often is the first time I played for my countryman, it was unbelievable. But the day before, the morning of the day, Sukhi sir, my first national team coach, in the morning he came to me and he’s like, you’re going to start? I can’t tell you how I was feeling man. I took my jersey, I sprayed some perfume on it, I have no idea why. So that day, everything that happened, once he told me, from breakfast to lunch and to the game and to my first goal in my debut, to conceding late 80th minute, that day is probably that I will never forget and is one of the best days of my national team journey,” Chhetri said in a lengthy social media post.

Chhetri kicked off his professional football journey at Mohun Bagan in 2002. Chhetri helped India win the 2007, 2009, and 2012 Nehru Cup, as well as the 2011, 2015, 2021 and 2023 SAFF Championship. He also led India to victory in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which helped India qualify for its first AFC Asian Cup in 27 years.

The Indian captain received the Arjuna Award in 2011, and the Padma Shri in 2019. In 2021, he became the first footballer to get the Khel Ratna Award, India’s highest sporting honour.

Virat Kohli with Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri. File
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Star India cricketer Virat Kohli, who is a good friend of national football captain Sunil Chhetri, says the stalwart is at peace with his decision to retire after a World Cup qualifying match next month and had informed him before announcing it to the world.

Chhetri, India’s most capped (150 matches) player and also the country’s top goal-scorer (94), on May 16 announced that he will retire after the game against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6.

“He (Chhetri) is a really great player. He actually messaged me as well informing that he’s going to do that. But I would actually say I felt like he is at peace with the decision,” Kohli said in a short video interview on his IPL side Royal Challengers Benagluru’s ‘X’ page.

Sunil Chhetri’s Indian national team career and achievements | In pictures 

“I have become very close with him over the years and I wish the best. He is a lovely, lovely guy.” Kohli also informed that his daughter Vamika has recently started swinging a bat but said he would never force his kids to take up cricket.

Kohli and his actor wife Anushka Sharma were blessed with a daughter Vamika, in 2021 and recently also welcomed a son, Akaay.

“My daughter picked up a bat and she is really enjoying swinging the bat. But it’s their choice again only,” he said.

RCB are currently placed sixth in the IPL standings with 12 points from 13 games and will take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings in a must-win match here on Friday.

RCB made a remarkable comeback with five straight wins after enduring a six-game losing streak to stay afloat in the play-off race. “The month of May has been very good. We found a ray of sunlight. We are glad that we have made the fans happy again,” Kohli said of their fightback.

India’s batting maestro Virat Kohli revealed that ace India footballer Sunil Chhetri messaged him before announcing his decision to retire from international football. A player who redefined the standards of Indian football, Chhetri emerged as an inspiration not only for his nation but also in the international circuit. Taking to his social media handle on Thursday, the footballing icon said he would don the national jersey one last time in an international fixture against Kuwait on June 6.

The third-highest active international goal scorer will receive one last opportunity to play in front of his adoring home fans at the Salt Lake Stadium before he brings the curtains down on a 19-year-long career. In a career that spanned over 19 years, the Arjuna Award winner has 94 goals in 150 matches on the international stage. The most-capped Indian footballer is the third-highest goal-scorer on the global stage with icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi ahead of him.

In an interview on the RCB Insider Show, Kohli praised Chhetri’s modest nature and added that the footballing icon was content with his decision to retire.

Over the years, there has been a healthy relationship between Chhetri and Kohli. Before the IPL 2023 match between RCB and MI at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Chhetri met with Kohli and the team last year.

The Interview you’ve all been waiting for is finally here.

Mr. Nags meets Virat Kohli , cuts a cake to celebrate the 10th year of @bigbasket_com presents RCB Insider Show and relives their friendship over the years.#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/fzJ2EGZrFm

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 17, 2024

“He is a really dear friend. He actually messaged me as well, informing me that he was going to do it. But I would say that he felt like he is at peace with the decision. I have become really close with him over the years and wish him nothing but the best. He is a lovely lovely guy,” Kohli said on the RCB Insider Show.

On his retirement, The record-breaking forward recalled emotional times with his family, stating that his mother and wife were in tears when he informed them of his intention to retire from international football.

“I told my mom, my dad and my wife, my family first, my dad, he was normal, he was relieved, happy, everything, but my mom and my wife started crying and I told them, you always used to bug me that there are too many games, there is too much of pressure when you watch me and now that I’m telling you that, you know, I’m not going to play for my country anymore after this game,” he posted.

Meanwhile, in the IPL 2024, Kohli has been a vital member of the RCB team and holds the top spot in the current Orange Cap holder. With one century and five half-centuries to his credit, Kohli has amassed 661 runs at an average of 66.10 and a strike rate of 155.16 in 13 games.