Albert Roca. (TOI Photo)

BENGALURU: Former Bengaluru FC coach Albert Roca, who has reportedly applied for the post of India's national football coach, is expected to face a tough challenge with the likes of Italian Giovanni De Biasi and Swede Hakan Ericson also in the fray.

With the last date for applying for the post of head coach of the men's senior national team and U-23 men's teams ending last Friday (March 29), the All India Football Federation is now expected to make a shortlist from among the list of applicants.

"Roca, De Biasi, Ericson and Croats Igor Stimac and Robert Jarni have reportedly applied for the India head coach's job to replace Englishman Stephen Constantine," sources told TOI.

"Massimiliano Maddaloni, who was assistant to Marcello Lippi in China, NEUFC coach Eelco Schattorie and former BFC coach Ashley Westwood are also in the race," they said adding that the AIFF got close to 40 applications for the job. While the previous coach was reportedly earning $3,00,000 per year, the new man in charge could even get $3,50,000 to $4,00,000 per annum.

AIFF officials were tightlipped, not ready to confirm or deny the names of coaches who have applied for the post. Earlier, there were also reports that Sven-Goran Eriksson and Sam Allardyce were interested in the job. "We will get a clear picture only after the shortlist is made," they said.

Among the coaches, De Biasi comes with the biggest credentials. An UEFA Pro License holder, De Biasi was the first coach to lead Albania to the Euro in 2016. The 62-year-old Italian, ranked as one of the top coaches in the world in 2015, was later in charge of Spanish club Deportivo Alaves.

