அவரது கண்களில் கண்ணீர், ஸ்டீபன் கான்ஸ்டன்டைன் இந்திய கால்பந்து குழுவினர் வழிகாட்டியாக பணிபுரிந்தார், ஆசியக் கோப்பை ஒரு கடுமையான மாத்திரையாக முடிவடைகிறது, அவர் விழுங்குவதைக் கூட நினைத்து பார்க்க கூட கடினமாக உள்ளது. சனிக்கிழமை இரவு ஷார்ஜாவில் நடைபெற்ற இறுதி கூட்டத்தில் 1-0 என்ற கணக்கில் வெற்றிபெற்ற பஹ்ரைன்க்கு 90 வது நிமிட தண்டனை வழங்கப்பட்டபோது, ஒரு பெரிய பேரழிவை நிகழ்த்தியதில் இந்தியாவின் வாக்குறுதிகள் நிறைவடைகின்றன. மேலும், அவரது “சுழற்சி” செய்யப்பட்டது. “இந்த கேளிக்கைக்குப் பிறகு நான் கீழே தள்ளி வருகிறேன், நீண்ட காலமாக இங்கு வந்துள்ளேன், ஆரம்பத்தில் இருந்தே என் இலக்கு ஆசியக் கோப்பையின் எல்லா தேவைகளையும் பூர்த்தி செய்வதாக இருந்தது, நான் அதை செய்துவிட்டேன், அவர்கள் வழங்கிய அனைத்தையும் வீரர்கள், “கான்ஸ்டன்டைன் கூறினார்.
\"I believe my tenure has run its course. After four years of dedication, it is time for me to step away,\" shared the Anglo-Cyprus manager. Constantine is no stranger to the Indian side, having first served as head coach between 2002 and 2005. He returned to the helm in 2015, succeeding the Netherlands' Wim Koevermans.
Prior to the Asian Cup, Constantine placed significant trust in veteran players, most notably the legendary striker Sunil Chhetri. \"My main objective upon arriving was to get India to the Asian Cup, and I'm proud to say we accomplished that, even breaking some records along the way. The players gave everything they had, and I couldn't be prouder of their effort,\" he noted. Under his guidance, India climbed to a second-best FIFA ranking of 96th, a massive improvement from the low of 173rd before he took over. \"I leave with a heavy heart because the players and staff were wonderful, including those who didn't even get a chance to play,\" he added. Although his contract was set to expire on January 31, the match against Bahrain—specifically a critical error by captain Pronay Halder that led to the penalty—effectively sealed the end of his era. Constantine now looks forward to spending quality time with his family.
\"Today is a special birthday for me. I haven't been home in six years, and I've missed seeing my three young daughters for months; I feel like time is slipping away from me,\" he confessed. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) officially confirmed the 56-year-old's resignation via their Twitter account.
The coach dismissed the idea that the team played too conservatively. \"We didn't intentionally play for a draw. Bahrain started with strong intent and genuine quality. If we seemed hesitant, it wasn't a lack of will, but rather a response to their pressure.\"
\"We focused on a deep defensive structure, and for 90 minutes, we held our own. I felt we were solid, and we even saw some promising play from our younger players around the 70th and 75th minute. Bahrain was aggressive, pushing six players forward into the midfield, but conceding a penalty in that manner is something that can happen to anyone,\" he explained.