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Pamela Conti Appointed Head Coach of India U17 Women's Football Team

The All India Football Federation has appointed Italian Pamela Conti as the new head coach of the Indian U17 women's national team. She has immediately joined the team's training camp in Anantapur as they prepare for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2026. Conti is a former Italy international midfielder with 90 caps and previously served as the head coach of the Venezuelan senior and U20 women's teams for five years. Her first official tournament will be the SAFF U19 Women's Championship in Nepal, where India will field their U17 squad.

Key Points: Pamela Conti Named Indian U17 Women's Football Head Coach

  • Italian coach appointed for AFC U17 Asian Cup
  • Former Italy international with 90 caps
  • Led Venezuela's senior and U20 teams
  • First assignment is SAFF U19 Championship
  • Brother Vincenzo joins as assistant coach
2 min read

Pamela Conti appointed as Indian U17 women's team head coach

Italian coach Pamela Conti appointed to lead India U17 women's team for AFC Asian Cup 2026. Former Italy international brings extensive experience.

"Conti brings with her a wealth of experience at both the elite playing and international coaching levels. - AIFF Release"

New Delhi, January 25

The All India Football Federation has appointed Pamela Conti as the head coach of the Indian U17 women's national team, according to a release.

The 43-year-old Italian has joined the Indian U17 women's training camp in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, where the Young Tigresses are preparing for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2026, scheduled to start in April. As part of Conti's support staff, assistant coach Vincenzo Conti, who is her brother, will also join the India U17 women's team. Nivetha Ramadoss will continue in the role of assistant coach as well.

Conti's first official assignment will be the SAFF U19 Women's Championship 2026 that will take place in Pokhara, Nepal, from January 31 to February 7. India will participate in the tournament with their U17 squad, consisting of players born on or after 2009.

A former Italy international midfielder, Conti brings with her a wealth of experience at both the elite playing and international coaching levels. During a distinguished playing career, she earned 90 caps and scored 30 goals for the Italy women's national team, representing her country at the highest levels of European football, including the 2005 and 2009 UEFA European Women's Championship. She also enjoyed an extensive club career across Italy (Sassari Torres), Spain (Levante and Espanyol), Sweden (Eskilstuna United), Russia (Energy Voronezh and Zorky Krasnogorsk) and the United States (Buffalo Flash), winning multiple domestic league titles and cup competitions.

Conti began her coaching career in 2018 with the Atletico de Madrid Femenino U16 team in Spain. In 2019, she took up the Venezuelan senior and U20 women's national team job, where she remained for five years. Conti guided Venezuela to their second-ever FIFA U20 Women's World Cup qualification in 2024. The South American nation came close to qualifying for their maiden FIFA Women's World Cup under her stewardship, but narrowly missed out on a play-off tournament berth on penalties in 2022.

In 2021, India played against Venezuela in the Torneio Internacional de Manaus de Futebol Feminino in Brazil, but Conti was absent from the dugout due to a positive COVID-19 test. Her assistant Vincenzo deputised for her, overseeing La Vinotinto's 2-1 victory over the Blue Tigresses.

Vincenzo is also a former player and served as Conti's assistant coach in the Venezuelan senior and U20 women's teams. He was also the head coach of their U17 women's team in the South American U17 Women's Championship 2024.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Welcome to India, Coach Conti! Her playing career is seriously impressive. 90 caps for Italy! Hoping she can instill that winning mentality in our young players. All the best for the SAFF championship!
A
Aman W
Good to see AIFF investing in a foreign coach with a proven track record in youth development. But I hope this is part of a long-term plan, not just a short-term fix. We need consistency.
S
Sarah B
Interesting choice. Bringing her brother as assistant coach too... hope the team dynamics work out well. Focus should be on the girls' development above all. Wishing them success in Nepal!
K
Karthik V
Her resume is world-class. Played in so many countries! That exposure will be invaluable for our girls. The future looks bright for the Young Tigresses. Let's go!
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Nidhi U
While I welcome the appointment, I have a respectful criticism. I hope AIFF also focuses on developing our own Indian coaches alongside foreign expertise. We need a sustainable model for the future.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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