PANAJI: The

(AIFF) will start the process of shortlisting coaches next week but it's unlikely they will consider any high-profile name.

Several reports have mentioned names like France's World Cup coach Raymond Domenech, former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson and

among those who have applied - through their agents - to succeed Stephen Constantine. But, according to federation sources, none of them will make the cut.

"We are not particularly looking at big names. What we need is the right person to take Indian football forward. There are coaches who have a big profile, but will they be the right choice for India? Can we afford their salaries, and will they be motivated enough to work here," asked a senior AIFF official who will be involved with the selection process.

Till March 29, the last day for submission of applications, the AIFF received a minimum of 20 applications on a daily basis.

At last count, there were 264 with many of them "applying for fun."

"Some are coaching school teams at the moment and believe they can coach the national team," said the official.

Coaches like Eriksson and Domenech, at their peak, were among the best-paid managers in the world and it's unlikely that the AIFF would afford them. Constantine, for example, was paid a monthly salary of $21,000 (approximately Rs 15 lakh) even after being given a hike for taking India to the Asian Cup 2019 and earning himself an extension. In sharp contrast, Eriksson's average salary in his past managerial jobs were $2 million a year (approx. Rs 14.4 crore).

From among the heap of applications, one name clearly stands out. Former Bengaluru FC coach

is understood to be leading the race to succeed Constantine with some senior AIFF officials clearly throwing their weight behind the Spanish coach.

Roca left Bengaluru last season after helping them win the Federation Cup (2017), Super Cup (2018) and a final appearance at the AFC Cup, Asia's second-tier club competition. In his two seasons at Bengaluru, Roca had a stellar win ratio of over 60 per cent.

Roca could be left in the lurch only if the sports ministry insists on a coach with experience of coaching at least two top-75 ranked national teams. Roca's only national experience is with El Salvador (average rank 93 in 2014), who he coached for a little over a year from 2014 till he quit after El Salvador failed to progress beyond the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup's group stage.