Latest revision as of 13:17, 19 May 2024

Sunil Chhetri

[edit] A brief biography

Marcus Mergulhao, May 17, 2024: The Times of India

Panaji : Sunil Chhetri remembers the morning he was told by coach Sukhwinder Singh that he would make his senior debut for India. It was Sunday, June 12, 2005 in Quetta, Pakistan. Chhetri had played in Pakistan before; just over a year ago he had played for India’s Under-23 side in the Islamabad SAF Games, but this was something else altogether. 


The 21-year-old striker couldn’t hide his joy.


“It was unbelievable,” Chhetri recalled on Thursday, almost two decades after that national team debut in 2005. “I can’t tell you how I was feeling. I took my jersey and sprayed some perfume on it. Everything that happened that day once coach told me, from breakfast to lunch, I’ll never forget. It’s one of my best days on my national team journey.”


That journey which started with a goal in front of 20,000 partisan Pakistanis, is special, and one that no footballer has experienced before. It’s been 19 years, 150 matches and 94 goals, the scale of his achievements impossible to compute. In a country where cricket is religion, Chhetri won fans and wooed crowds with his dare and discipline.


Now, he has decided to call time on his phenomenal international career. The game against Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6, a crucial one where India need a win to make it to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time, will be his last.


Chhetri’s decision, announced on Thursday morning, didn’t really raise eyebrows. 


For some time now, there were calls for him to make way for younger strikers. The goals were drying up too; his last field goal was against Malaysia in October last year and he went six games without scoring, including three in the high-profile AFC Asian Cup 2023.


“When the instinct came that this should be my last game, and I thought about it a lot, eventually I came to this decision. Will I be sad, of course. It took time (for this decision) because the kid inside me, he never wants to stop, if given a chance, to play for this country. Never,” said Chhetri.


Chhetri, 39, will end his international career as the most capped player, and the highest Indian international goal scorer, his tally only behind global superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the active players’ list. 
Some of his goals have been jawdropping: the great run against Kyrgyz Republic from just outside India’s own danger zone, the imperious chip over Kenya goalkeeper, the strike to break the Myanmar jinx; the set-piece goal against Oman. And who can forget all the penalties where he was guaranteed to score and lift India’s mood.


“I am fortunate. So many amazing things have happened, I’ve practically lived a dream, but nothing comes close to playing for the country. The kid kept fighting and probably in the future will keep fighting inside. But the mature person inside, knows this is it. It wasn’t easy.


“I think it’s time for the country to see the next number nine (forward). It’s time we build on it. Already we are a little bit handicapped because a lot of national team boys don’t play number nines at their clubs (who prefer foreigners). At least now, when I am not there, I am sure so many will step up and they need time,” said Chhetri.


The next game for India, Chhetri’s final one, is among the most crucial.


Win against Kuwait and the team makes it to the third round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time. There’s immense pressure on coach Igor Stimac – lose and he’s out – besides the players. But the face of Indian football remains calm.
“I don’t feel the pressure at a time when this game demands pressure,” said Chhetri.


“We need the three points against Kuwait to qualify for the next round. It’s hugely important for us. But in a strange and nice way, I don’t feel the pressure. I know these 15-20 days of training and the Kuwait game is my last. I am quite certain that I will enjoy.”


Fans will have big expectations of Chhetri when he takes the field for India, one final time. A goal against Kuwait and fans will start singing, ‘We’ve got Chhetri, Sunil Chhetri... I just don’t think you understand. Oh! when he scores, we go f***ing mad... We’ve got Sunil Chhetri.’ One final time.

[edit] 2005-2024 May: Statistics

Marcus Mergulhao, May 17, 2024: The Times of India

Born: Aug 3, 1984, Secunderabad Position: Striker


For India


Debut: June 12, 2005 vs Pakistan (Quetta) Matches: 150 (87 as captain) Goals: 94


Achievements


● First to score 50 goals for India in internationals


● With 94, most international goals for India; also among the top-5 all-time international scorers, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo (128) and Lionel Messi (106) among active players.


● Has scored four hat-tricks for India


● Has scored in three finals of SAFF Cup (2011, 2015-16, 2021).


● Only Indian to score in his 1st, 50th, 100th and 150th international matches


Awards


Padma Shree (2019); Khel Ratna (2021); Arjuna (2011); Asian Icon by AFC 2018); AIFF Player of the Year (2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019); FPAI Player of the Year (2009, 2018); AFC Challenge Cup MVP (2008); SAFF MVP (2011); Hero of the Inter Continental Cup (2018)


Trophies


Nehru Cup (2007, 2009, 2012); AFC Challenge Cup (2008); SAFF Cup (2011, 2015, 2021, 2023); Hero Inter Continental Cup (2018, 2023); Hero Tri Nation Series (2017, 2023)


State/Santosh Trophy 


Delhi: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 (goals 13).


Clubs


Mohun Bagan: 2002-2005, 2011-12 (Goals 35); East Bengal: 2008-09 (13); Dempo Club: 2009-10 (8); Chirag United: 2010-11 (9); Kansas City Wizards (USA): 2010; Sporting CPB (Portugal): 2012-13; Churchill Brothers: 2012-13 (4); Bengaluru FC: From 2013 (121); Mumbai City FC (on loan): 2015-16 (7).


— Gautam Roy

[edit] Records

[edit] World’s 2nd highest international goals/ 2019

Marcus Mergulhao, Every match is war for us, says Sunil, January 7, 2019: The Times of India

So where do we start with Sunil Chhetri? That he now has more international goals (67) than Argentina and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi (65), and is second behind Cristiano Ronaldo (85) in the list of active international goal-scorers? That he is now India’s topscorer in the Asian Cup with double the goals that the great Inder Singh scored at the Asian Cup in 1964? That he is the only Indian to have played in two editions of the continental tournament?

Prior to India’s opening battle against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi, all the chatter was how he was denied the chance to lead India and the armband instead being handed to goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Never mind coach Stephen Constantine’s rotational policy, but for many fans it was hard to digest that Chhetri was not officially leading the country.

The captaincy hardly mattered for Chhetri, though. From scoring the opening goal with a calm penalty and giving India the lead for the second time with a gem of a strike, Chhetri was at the heart of India’s stunning 4-1 win over Thailand.

[edit] 2022 June: equals Puskas’ tally

Indian football team captain received a congratulatory message from EPL club Tottenham Hotspur for equalling Hungarian legend Ferenc Puskas' tally of 84 international goals. “Congratulations to India's @chetrisunil11 for equalling the great Ferenc Puskas with his tally of 84 international goals! #IndianFootball,”.

[edit] As in 2024 March

March 26, 2024: The Times of India

Sunil Chhetri’s Records and statistics, As in 2024 March
From: March 26, 2024: The Times of India

Sunil Chhetri is set to play his record-extending 150th international match when India will host Afghanistan in the World Cup qualifiers in Guwahati. Bhaichung Bhutia is a distant second having played 88 times for senior India team. Chhetri is the only player to have scored in his debut as well as Match No. 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125. Here’s a look at some of his achievements.

[edit] 2015

The Times of India, May 9, 2015

The striker has been the mainstay of the national football team for quite some time now and more often than not makes the difference for his team. With 14 strikes in last season's I-League, Sunil was the top-scorer and played a pivotal role in Bengaluru FC clinching the I-League title.Highest scorer for India at the international level, Sunil has won AIFF's Player of the Year award four times and was recently included by World Soccer magazine in a list of 500 most important players on the planet.

[edit] Indian Super League (ISL), Mumbai: 2015

The Times of India, Jul 10, 2015

Jamie Alter

Sunil Chhetri, Eugeneson Lyngdoh become millionaires at ISL auction

India national football captain Sunil Chhetri was the biggest earner at the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) auction in Mumbai, going to Mumbai City FC for Rs 1.20 crore. Chhetri's team-mate at Bengaluru FC, central midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh, had become the ISL's first millionaire when was purchased by Pune FC for 1.05 crore from a base price of Rs 27 lakh, but it wasn't long before the Indian captain fetched the highest price of the auction. These two names, among ten of Indian football's best to go under the hammer for the first time after missing the 2014 ISL, were the only players to attract bids in excess of a crore. Coming in at third with a price of Rs 90 lakh was India defender Rino Anto, sold to defending ISL champions Atletico de Kolkata from a starting price of just 17 lakh.

A total of Rs 7.22 crore was spent on the ten players at the auction, with FC Goa and Kerala Blasters the only teams not to buy any player.

Chhetri, a four-time AIFF Player of the Year and India's leading goal scorer, had a base price of Rs 80 lakh. Surprisingly, there was hardly any bidding for the ace striker once his name was announced by the auctioneer, and Mumbai City FC bagged him for Rs 1.20 crore; a price which co-owner and Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor expressed surprise.

[edit] Chhetri's stake in July 2015

The Times of India, Jul 11 2015

INGLORIOUS UNCERTAINTIES OF INDIAN SPORTS - With ISL bids, footballers turn crorepatis overnight

Marcus Mergulhao

India may be ranked a poor 156th in the world, but its footballers have never had it so good. Following the IPL-style player auction for the second edition of the Indian Super League, a handful of footballer crorepatis has emerged overnight. In July 2015, India captain Sunil Chhetri's stake for the season rose to Rs 1.55 crore after ISL franchise Mumbai City FC paid his base price of Rs 80 lakh and the balance of Rs 75 lakh was to be footed by his I-League club Bengaluru FC.

He is now joined by domestic footballers who struck it rich at the ISL auctions. Mizo footballer Eugeneson Lyngdoh (Rs 1.04 crore), Manipur's Thoi Singh (Rs 86 lakh) and Rino Anto (Rs 90 lakh) of Kerala too made the select club, being guaranteed a season's income of over Rs 1 crore following a loan agreement with their parent I-League clubs. Bengaluru FC's players accounted for a total of Rs 4.5 crore at the auction.