The name of Englishman Stephen Constantine has been making headlines in the British as well as Indian media since this summer, when Mr. Constantine was named as a potential candidate as India's national team coach's. India's England tour and the India national coach issue were not at all connected to each other but took place at the same time in the media, giving rise to free speculations...
A few month's later things seem to haved moved on and Mr. Constantine is now very likely to take up a coaching position with the Indian national team.
Mr. Constantine has been recommended to the All-Indian Football Federation by both the world governing body, FIFA and the Asian governing body, the AFC.
IndianFootball.Com was able to do an eMail interview with Mr. Constantine.

Tell us something about your football background.
Where have you played?
Where have you coached?

Thank you so much for the opportunity to this interview with your site.
Firstly let me say that it is very flattering to be linked with the Indian National Team and of course it is something that I would be interested in.
I played at youth level for a few clubs in England and spent a little time at Chelsea and Millwall as well as a few others. I also played in Cyprus and the United States where I finished my career after a terrible injury forced me to retire. I was 28 at the time. I had begun to take coaching qualifications as I knew I wanted to be involved in the game after my playing days were over, it came a little too soon but I was ready to step into coaching having taken a number of coaching qualifications. I took all the United States coaching awards as well as the English ones. I am also a holder of the UEFA A license and am one of only two English FIFA Instructor's and one of the youngest in the world.
I have coached here in England, in Cyprus, USA and of course Nepal. In all I have coached at every level from youth all the way through to International level.

And how were your two years as national coach of Nepal?

I spent two years as the National team coach in Nepal, and had a really good time. The results were good, and of course winning the silver medal at the SAF Games was an achievement. Aside from the SAF Games I also guided the U16 to their first appearance in the Asian Finals in Vietnam. This was the first time that any Nepalese side had ever qualified for any of the Asian Finals.

We have read, you were a national hero in Nepal and even got an award from the late King of Nepal. You were successful but why did you have to leave?

Yes the award from the late KIng of Nepal was and still is a huge honour for me and my family I am truely grateful for it.
The people of Nepal were very good to me and my family and I still have many friends there.
I left because my job was being interfered with as a result of the well documented and political struggle between the FA and the Goverment. They were and still are fighting over who controls the day to day running of the FA, it became impossible for me to do my job and when that happens there is little choice.
It was the hardest decision I have had to make in my career but as I said I felt I had no choice.

What have you been doing lately?

Well I am Assistant Director at the Center of Excellence at Bournemouth AFC, I help the FA with Coach Education course's, and am Director for a Youth Academy in Chichester. I also scout for a number of first and second division clubs,added to that are my FIFA duties. Most recently I was in Iran coaching there National Team coaches so hopefully that will give you an idea of how buy I am.

What do you know about Indian football?

Well I did see them in the SAF Games in Nepal, but since then not a great deal. I do know that the AIFF have tried hard to put things right and that hopefully they will. I think the potential in India is huge but like I say to the youngsters at Bournemouth, it is no good having potential if you do not realise it.

Who are the Indian players known to you?

Of course I think most people who are involved in Asian football and those in England recognise the names of Baichung Bhutia and also Harpal Singh who is at Bury with him.
Of course IM Vijayan is also know to me he scored the first goal against Nepal in the 99 SAF Games!!

What would you do to develop India as a strong Asian and maybe even international football power?

Well thats a good question without having been there it would be difficult to really get to the root of the problem. I think though that in order for India to be a force in Asia we need to be able to identify the talent at a young age and to do that we need good coaches, coach education is the key the better the Indian coach the better the Indian player! The National League and there teams should be united, and should be trying to develop junior teams.
The National team is a mirror of the country's football, a strong league will reflect positively on the National side as competition breeds success. This will also bring other benefits to Indian football and why not India 2006-2010 in the World Cup.
Lesser nations have done it but we must all pull in the same direction.

How would you describe your football philosophy?

Hmm. My philosophy well I guess I like to see teams play quick and pass the ball but I generally try to take each game as it comes.

Do you perfer a style of play? or system? If yes, which.

As I said my style is adaptable and so is the system, you must be flexable enough to change your system it is no good playing three up front say against Japan, we would need to focus on our strong points and pick out any weakness they have, then again if we are playing at home against Yemen lets say, I would try and put them under pressure. System's don't win games. Players do!The players doing the right things at the right time!

I hope I have answered your questions and my best wishes to all your readers.

Thank you Mr. Constantine for doing this interview with us.

For more information on Stephen Constantine go to his personal website. The URL is http://www.stephenconstantine.com/ . An interesting and informative site!