Football: Joakim Alexandersson Takes Charge as Chief Coach for India's U20 and U17 Women’s Teams
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New Delhi, Dec 5 (NationPress) Joakim Alexandersson, a coach from Sweden, has been named the Chief Coach for the India Women’s U20 and U17 national teams by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
He will kick off his coaching journey in India with a two-month U20 national camp that is set to begin in Bengaluru on December 10. The 48-year-old coach has arrived as part of a collaboration between the AIFF and the Swedish Football Association.
Having had a significant career as a defender, Alexandersson played primarily for IF Elfsborg, where he served as captain and garnered several trophies. He also represented Sweden at the U21 level. In 2014, he started his coaching career as a youth director at IF Elfsborg, guiding the Elite U17, U16, U15, and U14 boys’ and girls’ teams, leading to numerous youth league titles and successful player promotions to senior squads.
In response to his appointment, AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey expressed, “I want to extend my thanks to the Swedish FA for this partnership. It will significantly enhance opportunities for Indian women footballers.
“Four of our women coaches, together with two goalkeeper coaches, will work closely alongside Mr. Alexandersson. This supportive staff will collaborate with national scouts and Member Associations to discover talent throughout the nation,” Chaubey added.
The AIFF President also mentioned that the federation is contemplating increasing the quota for foreign players in the Indian Women’s League. He acknowledged the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, for their assistance in organizing 90 leagues across three different age categories for women under the Khelo India initiative. “This initiative will aid in broadening our player pool,” he noted.
The coaching team supporting Alexandersson includes Nivetha Ramadoss, Amrutha Aravind, Sradhanjali Samantaray, and Nidhi, while the goalkeeper coaches are KK Hameed and Dipankar Choudhury.
Two friendly matches between the India U20 and Maldives are scheduled to take place on December 30 and January 2, 2025. The AIFF aims to conduct extended camps for the women’s teams lasting seven to eight months and arrange 10-12 exposure matches annually against competitive teams.
M Satyanarayan, AIFF Deputy Secretary General and head of national teams, shared, “This is part of our long-term strategy for women’s football. We are developing a two-year plan with Alexandersson aimed at the Asian Games 2026 and the AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Alexandersson stated, “I am thrilled about this challenge. I see immense potential in India. Football is a significant sport here, and there’s a strong desire for progress, so I believe I have a great opportunity and I'm eager to start.”
Currently, India holds the 13th rank in Asia for senior women’s football. To elevate the level further, the AIFF has devised a comprehensive plan aimed at the junior level, with the Swedish coach scheduled for regular consultations with scouts involved in this initiative.
