Khalid Jamil’s pragmatic approach is the way forward for Indian football. Today Sports News

Resolute, defensively solid, substance over style, and making the most of every opportunity — that is how Khalid Jamil played his football and that is also how his Indian team has gone about business so far.

Khalid, who was born in Kuwait and moved to India after Iraq’s invasion of the West Asian country, was a naturally gifted player and did not take long to attract the attention of Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.

Strength of conviction

However, being a devout Muslim, he rejected both teams due to their sponsorship deals with the United Breweries Group. It is that strength of his convictions that has helped the former India midfielder progress from an injury-riddled playing career to multiple successful managerial stints at clubs across the country.

Since taking over as the Indian head coach, Khalid has shown an ability to adapt and improvise, rather than complain and throw in the towel. When Mohun Bagan Super Giant refused to release seven players for India’s CAFA Nations Cup campaign, he expressed disappointment but swiftly moved on from the issue.

The many foreign coaches who preceded him — Wim Koevermans, Stephen Constantine, Igor Stimac and Manolo Marquez, the most recent — ran Sunil Chhetri into the ground, citing a lack of adequate attacking firepower in the country. Khalid, however, decided against calling up the veteran and chose to test other players in competitive settings without Chhetri’s larger-than-life shadow looming over them from the bench.

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Yes, Irfan Yadwad failed to deliver as the No. 9. So did Vikram Partap Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh and Naorem Mahesh when tasked with leading the line. Yes, 41-year-old Chhetri might lead the Blue Tigers against Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on October 9. But Khalid has shown that he is willing to back the right player, giving Indian strikers across clubs the sort of confidence boost that has been missing in recent years.

Mohammedan SC head coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo, who has crossed paths with Khalid in his playing days, believes that the 48-year-old’s knowledge of the country’s football landscape puts him in good standing as the India head coach.

“Khalid’s experience in the country, both as a player and coach, is helping the Indian footballers to grow because he understands Indian football. It is always an advantage for players when you have an Indian coach. Because of the communication and because of the understanding of Indian football,” he told The Hindu.

“Foreign coaches, when they come to the national team or when they come to India, they take time to understand the philosophy, the culture and the football. But for an Indian coach, it is already there by default. Someone like Khalid has that, since he has been in the system from his childhood.”

Another former India international, who wished to remain anonymous, gave an insight into how Khalid has gone about his job so far: “He has been speaking with players one-on-one, personally guiding them in various things, and has even taken a hands-on approach to his coaching sessions. Players have loved that, as of now.”

Maximising defence

Where successive coaches grappled with the idea of getting results while playing easy-on-the-eye football, Khalid has been more pragmatic. Knowing that India was the third-lowest-ranked side at the CAFA Nations Cup, the team set up in a way that maximised its defensive strengths, one of the hallmarks of his teams over the years.

Khalid even took a leaf out of Rory Delap’s playbook, utilising Rahul Bheke and Muhammed Uvais’ athletic abilities to effortlessly make accurate long throws. The result? All three goals scored under him have come either directly from them or in the phases of play immediately after.

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India has gone from struggling to compete against better-ranked teams to finding ways to go toe-to-toe with them — host Tajikistan and Oman, sitting 27 and 54 places above India, respectively, were both sent packing during a bronze-winning campaign.

Former India coach Syed Nayeemuddin, who gave Khalid his national team debut in 1998, recalled how he was always eager to learn and get better. The 81-year-old stated that while Khalid was not among the most flashy of players he trained over the years, he was among the hardest working and most disciplined — qualities Nayeemuddin believes have helped him build a successful coaching career.

“I saw him playing in Bombay and he immediately caught my eye. After coming into the national squad, he was very, very disciplined, worked hard, always arrived well before time and was disciplined, both on and off the field. He played real top-class football, respected everyone, be it coaches or his teammates, or even opponents. And he has been the same as a coach,” the Dronacharya awardee said.

Nayeemuddin said Khalid showed early signs of being a good leader and backed him to achieve success on the global stage, even if football purists scoff at his methods.

“Do not listen to criticism about his style of play. It is nonsense. Everyone sitting at home can easily talk. It is easy to comment. Only a coach knows what the strengths and weaknesses of his players are, and a good coach will ensure that opponents do not exploit those weaknesses,” Nayeemuddin emphasised.

“To play stylish football, you need at least three to five years. Players cannot turn over a new leaf overnight. And to be in the role for that long, you need results first.”

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His football might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for Khalid, a team’s success is built on defensive solidity. “I tell my players to focus on defending, stay tight man-to-man, and maintain their shape. Beyond that, they have the freedom to play their natural game,” he said at a press conference.

New dawn

Under Constantine, while India broke into the top 100 of the FIFA rankings and qualified for the Asian Cup, there was widespread criticism for his counter-attacking style. Under Stimac, India lacked a clear tactical plan and effective in-game management. Under Marquez, India barely got going, with just one win in eight games. His expansive style, which took FC Goa to a Super Cup title and the AFC Champions League Two, failed to translate to international football.

Under all of them, however, there has been criticism of the way the All India Football Federation (AIFF) functioned, to varying degrees, and the quality of players at their disposal.

And that brings us to Khalid, wearing what many consider a fractured crown and holding a poisoned chalice. In his years in club football, he excelled at taking lesser-fancied, low-budget teams to heady heights, be it Mumbai FC’s survival, Aizawl FC’s fairytale I-League triumph, or NorthEast United FC and Jamshedpur FC’s playoff runs in the Indian Super League (ISL). The current Indian side is right up his wheelhouse.

He might not be the most gifted coach around, but Khalid is just about the right coach for India. At a time when the stitches have begun to show, he has breathed life into a gasping nation that has long been craving stability and success.