The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has confirmed that purported job applications from Spanish football icons Xavi Hernandez and Pep Guardiola for the role of head coach of the Indian men's national team were indeed hoaxes. The AIFF released a statement on Saturday, July 26, 2025, clarifying the situation after reports circulated about Xavi's potential interest in the position.

According to the AIFF, it received emails containing applications from individuals claiming to be Xavi Hernandez and Pep Guardiola. However, the federation could not verify the authenticity of these applications. Subsequent investigations revealed that the applications were not genuine. It had not been previously reported that the AIFF had also received an application purporting to be from Manchester City manager Guardiola.

The AIFF's technical committee had recently convened to assess the 170 applications received for the head coach position. From this pool, they shortlisted ten candidates before narrowing it down to three finalists: Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic. I.M. Vijayan, Chairperson of the Technical Committee, emphasized the need to address the national team's immediate requirements and recommended the three shortlisted coaches for final consideration. Vijayan added that other prominent applicants, including highly qualified international coaches, would be considered for long-term strategic roles within the organization.

Subrata Paul, Director of National Teams, highlighted the importance of appointing a coach with a deep understanding of the Asian and Indian football environment. The AIFF is committed to finding a coach who not only possesses technical expertise but also appreciates the unique style, culture, and dynamics of Indian and Asian football. The federation believes that such a coach will be able to connect with the players quickly and effectively, maximizing performance with the available resources and contributing to the future direction of Indian football.

The clarification from the AIFF came after reports suggested that Xavi was among the applicants for the head coach position, which had generated excitement within the federation. However, the AIFF has now shifted its focus back to a more practical and strategic hiring approach. The AIFF sacked former India manger Igor Stimac in June last year before appointing Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who left the job this month and returned to his role as coach of Indian Super League team FC Goa.

The AIFF's technical committee met on July 22 to decide on the head coach and emphasized that appointing a coach with a deep understanding of the Asian and Indian football ecosystem would be highly beneficial to the national team's immediate and future success.