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The men’s national team failed to win a single game in a year in which arguably Indian football’s greatest exponent hung up his boots from international action.
Sunil Chhetri called tim on his international career in May 2024 (AIFF)
The year 2024 will go down in the annals of history as one of the worst for the senior men’s national football team, in which two managers combined could not find a single win. Six losses and five draws read the balance sheet at the end.
Igor Stimac, who has been at the helm since 2019, had started the year with three back-to-back defeats in the group stage – Australia (0–2), Uzbekistan (0–3) and Syria (0-1) – of the AFC Asian Cup in January.
India failed to get past Afghanistan in both rounds and then the bombshell
dropped. Sunil Chhetri hung up his boot after the game against Kuwait in Kolkata as 58,921 fans filled the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. At 39, Chhetri bid adieu to the international circuit after serving for 19 years with 94 goals from 151 appearances, and his name became synonymous with the sport in the country.
India failed to qualify from the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign and lost the final game away to Qatar. That was the last straw, and Stimac got fired.
A war of words followed with the president of the All Indian Football Federation Kalyan Chaubey and Stimac.
Marquez Replaces Stimac, Results Remain Same
When it came to finding a replacement head coach, AIFF and FC Goa agreed to share Manolo Marquez.
His stint too did not get off to a great start as India lost the Intercontinental Cup in Hyderabad and ended the year without a win with lacklustre draws against Vietnam and Malaysia to finish the year in 126th position in the FIFA men’s rankings.
Women Following Men
As for the women’s national team, the year ended recording their worst-ever FIFA ranking – 69.
The team ended up playing just 10 times, winning just thrice. The SAFF Championship ended in a nightmare, losing to eventual winners Bangladesh in the group stage and runner-up Nepal in the semis.
Kolkata Big 3 Reunited In Top League
In domestic football, Mohammedan SC became the second club to gain promotion to the Indian Super League after winning the I-League.
Mohun Bagan Super Giants underlined their dominance in the country as they emerged the winners of the ISL League shield but Mumbai City FC pipped the Mariners to the ISL trophy.
East Bengal managed to end their 12-year title drought by winning the Super Cup to close out the season.
Odisha Make History
In the Indian Women’s League, Odisha FC managed to clinch the title but only just.
As for continental competitions, Odisha FC got off to a terrible start, losing to Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan 17-0 as they were knocked out in the group stage without a win.
Rivals Represent India In Asia
Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal returned to Asia together.
The Red and Gold brigade failed to win their play-off to Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr to qualify for the AFC Challenge League, while Mohun Bagan were in the AFC Champions League Two.
Mohun Bagan ended up playing just one game, a goalless draw against Ravshan of Tajikistan. They were withdrawn from the competition after the team decided not to travel to Tabriz in Iran, for their fixture against Tractor FC, citing security concerns.
East Bengal, on the other hand, bossed their group pipping teams from Bhutan, Bangladesh and Lebanon. They will next play Arkadag of Turkmenistan in the quarters.
