In a surprise move, Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac has been shortlisted to take over the Bosnia national team, according to Bosnian website Meridian Sport. The report comes just one day after India qualified to the round of 16 in the Asian Games, their first time doing so since 2010.
Stimac, a former Croatia international, has been in charge of the Indian team since 2019. He has led the team to some notable results, including wins over Lebanon. However, India has also struggled at times under his leadership, and his contract is due to expire at the end of the year.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has said that it wants to offer Stimac an extension, but it remains to be seen if he will accept it. If he does take the Bosnia job, it would be a major blow to Indian football.
Stimac has refused to comment on the reports of his interest in the Bosnia job, saying that he is focused on the Asian Games. India will play Saudi Arabia in the round of 16 on Thursday.
It is interesting to note that Stimac’s main rival for the Bosnia job is Savo Milosevic, a former Serbia and Aston Villa forward. Stimac and Milosevic were both teammates on the Yugoslavia national team in the 1990s.
If Stimac does take the Bosnia job, it will be a major test of his coaching credentials. Bosnia is a football-mad country with a rich history, and the pressure on the coach is always high. Stimac will need to prove that he can lead Bosnia to international success.
