Stephen Constantine resigns as India coach after the 1-0 defeat against Bahrain, AFC Asian Cup exit…

The English professional football coach has decided to step down from his position after failing to guide India towards the knockout stages of the AFC Asian Cup.

Stephen Constantine has resigned as the head coach of the Indian national team after the team crashed out of the AFC Asian Cup on Monday.

India needed a draw or a win against Bahrain in their final group match to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time ever in their history. However, a cruel 89th minute penalty from Jamal Rashed put paid to those hopes.

Immediately after the defeat, the Englishman announced that he has decided to step down from his position.

70′ – A quickly taken Bahrain corner kick created problem for the Indian defence that had switched off and from the result pinball, Marhoon rose to head he ball towards the goal, but only managed to rattle the woodwork.

India invited more trouble when referee showed Gurpreet to have handled a back pass from Subashish Bose and gifted Bahrain an indirect freekick inside the Indian box. However, Jamal Rashid’s shot after teed up by substitute Abdulla Yusuf Helal was deflected wide by Pronay.

However, Bahrain’s insistence paid off in the injury time of the second half when they were awarded a penalty by the referee. Rashid converted it from the spot undoing all the good work Constantine’s men had done in the tournament.

The 56-year-old took over the Blue Tigers in 2015 in his second stint in India and managed to guide them into the Asian Cup after a hiatus of eight years. Earlier, Constantine had coached India from 2002 to 2005.