The All India Football Federation has put former Philippines national coach, Desmond Bulpin in charge of the U-19 team to be fielded in the I-League starting this season.
The Englishman was recommended to the AIFF by countrymen and Indian national team manager Bob Houghton.
Bulpin has 25 years of experience under his belt and has managed Queens Park Rangers in the past. He was also a youth team coach at Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur where he saw the likes of Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe develop into the players they are today.
The AIFF is planning to roll out an U-19 side which will be fielded in the I-League to give the youngsters a chance to play competitive football as well as grow together. This decision was taken in view of the future of the national team.