Over the past few days, Indian football fans were abuzz with speculation that Xavi Hernández, Barcelona great and World Cup winner, had shown interest in filling the vacant head coach position for the Indian football team. Speculation ran high soon, with some believing that such a big overseas name could change Indian football overnight.
But is any of this true? Here's what actually transpired.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is scouting for a new head coach following Manolo Marquez's departure from the role. What follows, as is usual, is that a plethora of high-profile names around the globe, including Liverpool's Robbie Fowler, Stephen Constantine, and Steve Kean, were mentioned for the role. Along the way, tales emerged that Xavi, the old Barcelona and Spain midfield legend, had entered his bid for the job.
According to sources familiar with Xavi, the news is just false. The Spanish legend never applied for the position. Actually, individuals around him blamed the AIFF of playing a trick by using the name of Xavi to present the vacant defensive role in a better light and to perhaps generate more interest from international applicants and sponsors. Though it's usual for the authorities to drop hints about big names being keen, there was no indication whatsoever that Xavi ever officially expressed his desire to lead the Indian team.
One member of AIFF's technical committee reportedly even justified Xavi’s absence from the shortlist by saying the costs involved with hiring such a high-profile coach would be far too great for the federation’s budget, a statement seen more as a face-saving exercise than reality.
Xavi, who is loved by Barcelona fans and revered all over the footballing world, is no ordinary footballer-turned-coach. Having an illustrious playing career, during which he won the World Cup, two European Championships, and loads of titles for Barcelona, he got into coaching. He began at Al Sadd in Qatar, with immense success, before taking charge of Barcelona's first team as their head coach, guiding his childhood club to the La Liga title in his first year.
The name usage of Xavi Hernández looks more like an attempt to win publicity than an actual candidacy. The AIFF and football aficionados can dream about a superstar saviour, but until then, India's next coach will most probably be taken from more pragmatic, and economical, options.
For the fans, this episode is a lesson in how to take football superstardom-related rumors on the net with a grain of salt, particularly when there are no confirmations or statements made by the concerned personalities.
As much as it was a tempting rumor, but nothing to it. Xavi won't be coming to coach India, at least not for now.