Former India head coach, Armando Colaco has opened up on his short stint with the Blue Tigers, claiming that, “I could have achieved results with national team but didn’t get time”.
Colaco who is widely regarded as one of the most successful Indian coaches in recent times, was appointed as head coach of India in 2011 after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) were impressed by his record with Dempo.
However, the 68-year-old’s stint with the Blue Tigers ended after just four months, with Colaco reiterating that he needed more time to implement his ideas.
“I could have achieved results with the national team but didn’t get time. They gave me three months for a start and then handed me a one-year contract, which I refused. I needed at least three years to implement my ideas and change the way the national team played. The AIFF were not willing,” he said in an interview with Times of India.
Despite his short stint with India, there is no doubt that he remains one of the most successful Indian coaches in the world as between 2004 to 2012, he won almost every trophy present in the country – while becoming the first coach to lead an Indian club to the semifinals of the AFC Cup, which is Asia’s second-tier club competition.