As the Blue Tigresses prepare for their high-stakes AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia this March, the All India Football Federation has made a statement of intent by appointing 39-year-old Costa Rican tactician Amelia Valverde as the new head coach.
At just 28, Valverde shattered glass ceilings by becoming the head coach of the Costa Rican senior team, leading them to their first-ever World Cup in 2015. She arrives in India with a resume defined by grit and elite-level success.
World Cup pioneer: Managed Costa Rica at the 2015 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cups.
Trophy hunter: Led Mexican giants C.F. Monterrey Femenil to back-to-back league titles (Clausura and Apertura 2024).
Proven versatility: Known for an attacking 4-3-3 style at Monterrey, but famously adaptable with five-at-the-back formations against global powerhouses.
India has been drawn into a challenging Group B, where the margin for error is razor-thin. To qualify for the 2027 World Cup, India must finish among the top six teams in Australia.
Currently training in Turkey in 10-degree rain, the squad is undergoing a rigorous camp. Valverde’s biggest opponent, however, is the clock. With the opening match against Vietnam on March 4, she has only five weeks to implement her philosophy.
Valverde’s approach has been passed on to her by the women in her family. Her grandmother served in humanitarian aid during the Costa Rican civil war, and her mother was a pioneering judge. This legacy of opening doors for women is what she hopes to instill in Indian football.