Stephen Constantine's departure after the heartbreaking group stage exit at the AFC Asian Cup has left the top post vacant.
Constantine, who had taken over as the head coach of the senior men's Indian national team in February 2015, announced his decision to step down after India bowed out of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
The All India Football Federation, in its official Twitter handle, said that the 56-year-old Constantine has resigned.
Group A is currently balanced on a knife's edge, with all four teams still standing a chance to qualify for the Round of 16.
India skipper Sunil Chhetri and coach Stephen Constantine said that they have the capability of winning against Bahrain and reaching the next round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
India coach Stephen Constantine revealed that he asked his players to just focus on giving their best in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
The last date for registration of the list of 23 players for the Continental Championship is slated for December 26.
This was a climbdown for Stephen Constantine's men weeks after holding World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi's higher-ranked China to a goalless stalemate.
Out of the 17 matches played between the two countries so far, the Red Dragons have won on 12 occasions. The rest of the five matches ended in draws.
Constantine rued lack of preparation time ahead of his team's international friendly against a much-superior China scheduled on October 13.
All India Football Federation (AIFF) office-bearer said they don't see a plausible reason to part ways with the coach till the end of the continental showpiece, when his contract expires.
India are clubbed with UAE, Thailand and Bahrain in Group A of the continental showpiece.
Stephen Constantine also lauded skipper Sunil Chhetri and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu after India's 2-0 victory over Kenya in the final of Intercontinental Cup.
Stephen Constantine said his goals from the tournament were fulfilled and the final target is to lift the Trophy.
The Sunil Chhetri-led India scored resounding 5-0 and 3-0 wins over Chinese Taipei and Kenya before producing a below-par performance to slump to its first defeat in the tournament on Thursday.
India will play Thailand in the opening match in Abu Dhabi on January 6 followed by matches against UAE on January 10 and against Bahrain on January 14.
Constantine had helped India achieve their best-ever FIFA ranking since February 1996 when they ranked 96 in July 2017.
Constantine termed it a "valuable win" considering the ultra-defensive tactic employed by the home team.
India have won all four of their qualifying matches so far, the wins coming against Laos in the playoff round, and Myanmar and Kyrgyzstan in the group stage of the third round.
India have won nine international matches, including an unofficial game against Bhutan, on the trot.
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