Bibiano Fernandes has accepted the role of head coach for the India U-15 team, according to reports. This development follows a period of uncertainty surrounding the coaching staff for the squad, which is preparing for the inaugural FIFA World U15 Cup in Azerbaijan.
Initially, Ranjit Bajaj, founder of Minerva Academy, had rejected the position of team manager for the India U-15 squad. Bajaj cited fundamental differences in footballing philosophy with Fernandes, describing his own preferred approach as aggressive, high-pressing, and attacking, while characterising Fernandes’ methods as more pragmatic and counter-attacking. He reportedly stated that combining the two approaches would be a “preparation for disaster.”
However, Bajaj later reversed his decision, stating his readiness to take up the managerial job. This change of heart came after reports suggested that Fernandes had also declined his role. Bajaj communicated his availability via social media, emphasising his long-term goal of building a team capable of qualifying for the 2034 World Cup and the 2036 Olympics.
Coaching Credentials and Managerial Responsibilities
The situation has brought into focus the distinct roles of a team manager and a head coach within football. A team manager typically handles operational aspects such as logistics, coordination, administration, and player welfare. In contrast, the head coach is responsible for the team’s footballing identity, tactical approach, training methodology, and match preparation.
Fernandes is an AFC Pro-licensed coach with extensive experience in India’s youth national-team system. He has led India to three consecutive AFC U-16/U-17 Asian Cups between 2018 and 2023. His achievements also include winning the SAFF U-15 title twice, in 2017 and 2019, and the SAFF U-17 title in 2022. By October 2025, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had recorded five SAFF age-group titles under his leadership. In December 2025, Fernandes’ India U-17 side qualified for the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup by defeating Iran 2-1.
In contrast, Bajaj, who is 47 years old, has not coached a national team, and there is no public record of him holding an AFC coaching license. While he founded and runs the successful Minerva Academy, which has produced many players for the Indian system, the academy’s website credits its professional coaches, such as Technical Director Surinder Singh and Pradhyum Reddy, for its development and footballing philosophy.
AIFF’s Decision-Making Process Under Scrutiny
The AIFF’s initial appointments and the subsequent developments have raised questions regarding the selection criteria for national junior squads and the clarity of roles within the coaching staff. The federation had appointed an experienced, pro-licensed national-team coach in Fernandes and a successful academy owner in Bajaj as team manager.
The issue intensified when Bajaj reportedly rejected the arrangement due to philosophical disagreements with the head coach. If a manager seeks to influence tactics, it suggests a role beyond purely operational duties, effectively functioning as a technical authority. This situation has led to discussions about why Bajaj was appointed manager rather than head coach if he was expected to have a say in tactical decisions.
The AIFF is now faced with the task of clarifying the roles and responsibilities to ensure a cohesive structure for the India U-15 team. The football community awaits the federation’s final decision on who will lead the team onto the global stage.
The AIFF Executive Committee, under President Kalyan Chaubey, made the initial appointments.
Source: thebridge.in
