From East Bengal to India U-17: Winning Coach Anthony Andrews Takes on National Role

According to TheHindu, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has named Anthony Andrews as the assistant coach for the India U-17 women's football team. He will work with head coach Joakim Alexandersson to train and develop the country's young players. Anthony Andrews will serve as the U-17 assistant coach while continuing his main role as the head coach of East Bengal FC. This appointment highlights his proven success in women's football. Andrews is the most successful manager in Indian Women's League (IWL) history, with a record four titles - winning back-to-back championships with both Gokulam Kerala FC and East Bengal FC. He also led East Bengal FC to two consecutive AFC Women's Champions League group stages. Expressing his pride in the new role, Anthony Andrews said, "It is a great honor to join the India U-17 Women’s National Team. I thank the AIFF for their trust and am excited to help develop India's next generation of footballers." Bringing this proven winning culture and high-performance standard to the national setup, Andrews has already joined the squad in Tashkent, bringing his winning experience to the national team. The team is currently training and playing friendly matches against Uzbekistan to build match fitness and test tactics. These matches prepare the team for the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, which will take place in Malaysia from October 5 to 11, 2026. India will compete in Group E against Malaysia, Syria, and Iraq. By combining his expertise in player development with the goals of the national team, Andrews aims to build a strong foundation for India's young footballers on the international stage.