JOIN USAshley Westwood is reportedly the frontrunner to be India’s next football coach but the Bengaluru FC coach played down the talk on Tuesday.
“In the papers is where it stands right now. Obviously we had a successful season and I have done well as a coach. There will always be speculation when vacancies come up, but it is (only) in the papers until someone comes and speaks to me directly,” said the Englishman talking to Deccan Herald on the sidelines of a Bengaluru FC event here.
The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) technical, coaching and development committee, headed by Baichung Bhutia is set to meet on December 21, to discuss the coaching vacancy which was left open after Wim Koevermans stepped down as the national coach earlier this year.
A few names have surfaced in the past few months, which include the likes of NorthEast United FC’s head coach Rickie Herbert and the former East Bengal coach Trevor Morgan, but it is Westwood who is said to be leading the race for the top post in Indian football.
Westwood, who led BFC to I-League glory in its debut season, seemed prepared to take up a new challenge if it comes his way. “Everyone is interested to progress in football. No matter who you are or where you are you want to have an upcurve in your career. So you never rule anything out in football. Any successful coach will always be linked to certain jobs in and around the world.”