Constantine, Herbert high on AIFF's list for coach's job

Two men who possess experience of having coached in India as well as at the international level, Englishman Stephen Constantine and New Zealander Ricki Herbert, have been short-listed to take over from Dutchman Wim Koevermans as the new coach of the national football team.

Constatine, 52, who coached India between 2002 and 2005, and 53-year-old Herbert, former New Zealand coach who guided North East United FC in the Indian Super League that concluded on Saturday, were identified to take over the mantle by the All India Football Federation's technical committee at its meeting in Mumbai on Sunday.

"Both Stephen and Ricki fulfill that criteria. We would be speaking to both of them and then decide on who gets the job in the next 3-4 days," Bhutia told reporters after the technical committee meeting.

Bhutia also said that while the federation had received applications from the likes of Ashley Westwood, who guided Bengaluru FC to the I-League title last season, and Trevor Morgan (coach of Kerala Blasters in ISL) but they lacked the criteria of having coached a national team.

"We are looking at a contract of three years," he said.

The panel, headed by former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia, has also recommended Australian Scott O'Donnell -- AIFF's Academy instructor -- to take over the mantle of AIFF's Technical Director, a post which is lying vacant after the departure of Dutchman Rob Baans.

"We had a very good discussion over who should take over as coach of the senior team. Rob Baans had recommended that whoever takes over should know Indian football and should also have coached a team at the international level.

The former India striker said O'Donnell was identified as the best man for the job of Technical Director as per the 'Lakshya' road map for Indian football laid out by the AIFF.

"We have also identified two Germans -- Nicolai Adam and Bernard Lippert -- as the men ideal to take over as the national Under 17 coach ahead of the World Under 17 Cup to be hosted by India in 2017," said Bhutia.