Indian football clubs must listen to national team coach Igor Stimac for their own good

When he agreed terms to become India head coach, it is unlikely that Igor Stimac’s job would’ve included making frequent public appeals, with folded hands and heart emojis, for the most rudimentary things.

He’s had to beg to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for matches against decent opposition.

He has reached out to the Prime Minister, seeking his intervention to ensure the team did not miss out on the Hangzhou Asian Games.

And after the government relaxed its norms to allow the football team to board the plane to China, Stimac penned another open letter on Sunday. This time, to the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs, requesting them to release their national team players.

Here’s why Stimac has had to make an appeal to the clubs.

All his players are contracted with the teams, whose season began this week with the Durand Cup and continues till April-May next year.

Unlike cricket, players do not get paid to turn out for the national team. But they are handsomely remunerated by the clubs – a national team player, on an average, makes upwards of Rs 1 crore per season.

And so, the clubs tend to extract the last ounce of a player’s energy to make every paisa they pay him worthwhile. Once the domestic season starts, they control his schedule, game time, training routine and all off-field activities.

This is neither unique to India or football. That’s broadly how professional sport operates.

Clashing calendars

However, this well-oiled routine is faced with an unusual crisis. From September to January, the national team will play at least one international match every month, a rare occurrence in Indian football.

India begin this busy cycle in Thailand, where they will play in the King’s Cup. Around the same time, the