Sunil Chhetri: India will benefit from Igor Stimac’s ‘tremendous experience’

The Indian captain extends a warm welcome to the new head coach.

Sunil Chhetri: “While there is a change in guard at the helm, what does not change is our desire to keep improving.”

Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri on Wednesday gave a thumbs up to the appointment of Igor Stimac as head coach.

The 51-year-old Stimac, who was part of Croatia’s 1998 World Cup squad that finished third in France, was on Wednesday officially declared the head coach of the Indian team. He comes with an experience of over 18 years in coaching, structuring, and developing football with players back home and internationally. As a coach, Stimac’s major achievement was guiding Croatia to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil.

“I would like to extend a warm welcome to the new boss, @stimac_igor on his appointment as coach of the national team. He brings with him tremendous experience of having coached on some of the biggest stages in football. We will do well to benefit from it,” Chhetri said on Twitter .

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to the new boss, @stimac_igor on his appointment as coach of the National team. He brings with him tremendous experience of having coached on some of the biggest stages in football. We will do well to benefit from it.

— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 15, 2019

 

The 34-year-old Indian said the players will continue to give their best. “This will be a process, one towards which we will be giving nothing less than 100 percent. I have already spoken with the boys from the national team, and we have begun working on our fitness as we will need to switch modes soon,” he said.

This will be a process, one towards which we will be giving nothing less than 100%. I've already spoken with the boys from the National team, and we have begun working on our fitness as we will need to switch modes soon.

— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 15, 2019

 

“While there is a change in guard at the helm, what does not change is our desire to keep improving. What I am also assuming won’t change is the way all you fans have backed us. Let’s all turn to this new chapter together,” he added.

While there is a change in guard at the helm, what doesn't change is our desire to keep improving. What I am also assuming won't change is the way all you fans have backed us. Let's all turn to this new chapter together.

— Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) May 15, 2019

 

India’s next assignment will be the Kings Cup tournament in Thailand beginning on June 5.