Xavi application for India coaching job was a hoax, AIFF says

The authenticity of applications from Xavi and Pep Guardiola could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that they were not genuine, the AIFF says

Football - Spanish Super Cup - Semi Final - FC Barcelona v Osasuna - Al-Awwal Park, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - January 11, 2024 FC Barcelona coach Xavi. REUTERS

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Saturday that a job application attributed to former Barcelona manager and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez for the India head coaching role was a hoax.

The AIFF's national team director told The Times of India on Thursday that Xavi's name was on the list of applicants. The report also quoted an AIFF technical committee member saying the his candidacy was deemed too expensive to pursue.

"The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine," the AIFF said in a statement.

It had not been previously reported that the AIFF had also received an application purporting to be from Manchester City manager Guardiola.

The AIFF Technical Committee said it had reviewed 170 applications for the Indian men's head coach role, narrowing the list to 10 before short-listing three candidates.

The AIFF sacked former India manager 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.