Crispin Chettri is back in charge of the Indian women’s football team, restored to the hot seat just months after being moved aside, as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) moves quickly to steady a listing project.
The AIFF confirmed his reappointment on Tuesday, handing him the reins again ahead of the upcoming international window, with India already camped in Nairobi for the FIFA Series 2026 Kenya.
A Swift Turnaround After Valverde Exit
Amelia Valverde’s time with India has proved brutally short. Brought in only in January to replace Chettri, she leaves after a disappointing AFC Women's Asian Cup campaign earlier this year, where India’s long-awaited return to the continental stage ended at the group phase, without a single win.
It was their first appearance at the tournament in more than two decades. It never caught fire. The AIFF Technical Committee responded firmly last month, choosing not to extend Valverde’s contract and clearing the way for a familiar face to return.
Chettri’s Second Act
Chettri is not walking into an unknown dressing room. He had already overseen the side during the qualifiers for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup after being appointed in February last year, guiding the group through the first steps of a longer-term cycle before being replaced at the start of this year.
Now he comes back with less noise and more urgency. The calendar does not wait. With the team already in Kenya, he has moved quickly, naming a 22-member squad for the friendly tournament that will test India against varied opposition and give him an immediate look at his options.
New-Look Backroom Team
There is change around him as well. Sujata Kar, crowned 2025 AIFF Women’s Coach of the Year, steps in as assistant coach, a significant appointment that underlines the federation’s push to elevate domestic coaching talent into the national setup.
On the specialist side, Fysal K Bapu takes over as goalkeeping coach, charged with sharpening a department that will be crucial as India try to compete more consistently against stronger Asian and global opponents.
From Nairobi, the rebuild begins again. Same coach as last year, new staff, and a squad still searching for its ceiling. The question now is whether Chettri’s second stint can finally turn India’s long-promised potential into something more tangible on the pitch.
