Sunil Chhetri: one of the greatest, the generational talent

Sunil Chettri is one of the greatest football players in the history of Indian football. He was born on 3 August 1984. At the age of 16 in 2001, while playing with the city club Delhi, he was called by India to the Play Asian School championship in Kaula Lumpur. 

In 2002 he signed for Mohan Bagan and scored 8 goals in 18 matches. In 2005 he played his Debut match against Pakistan. After 19 years he plays his last international game against Kuwait in the World Cup qualifier on June 6, 2024. Apart from the caption of the national team Sunil Chhetri is the most capped player and highest goal scorer in Indian football history.

Personal Life:

Sunil Chhetri is one of the most decorated footballers in India. He was born on 3 Aug 1984 in Scandrabad,(Andhra Pradesh) presently Telangana. As his father was in the army he had to move very frequently between cities but still, he have charisma and a love for football.  He got married in 2017 to Sonam Bhattacharya.  

In 2022 FIFA released a documentary named Captain Fantastic which shows the life of Sunil Chhetri from his early teenage to his professional career.

Football Carrer:

Sunil Chettri started his career with City Club Delhi in the 2001-02 season where he scored 1 goal in 4 appearances. Then After a week-long trial he signed for Mohan Began where he played 3 seasons from 2002 to 2005. In Mohan Bagan, he scores 18 goals in the league and 28 goals in all competitions. 

In 2005 he signed for JCT, Here he played for 3 seasons, the first two seasons in the Nation League and the last season in the I League where he scored 44 goals in 79 matches.

In 2012-13 he signed for Sporting CP B in LigaPro where he played 3 matches. In the same season, Churchill Brothers (I League) signed him for a loan where he scored  8 goals in 17 matches

Currently, he is playing with Bengaluru FC and has 253 career goals and 94 international goals.

Honors:

In 2004 he won his first silver medal in the South Asian Games as an Indian U20 player. As a Club player, he won his first silverware with Dempo where he won the I-League in 2009-10 and with Churchill Brother in 2012-13 he won the second I-Leauge title.

While playing with Bengaluru he won the Indian Super League in the 2018 -19 season, the I league in 2013-14, and the 2015-16 season. He won the Durand Cup in 2022. He also won the Federation Cup in the 2014-15 and 2016-17 seasons.

While representing the Indian national team, he won the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, the Nehru Cup in 2007,  2009, and  2012 and he won the SAFF Championship in 2011, 2015, 2021, and 2023.

Records:

Sunil Chettri won FPAI Indian Player of the Year in 2009, 2018 and 2019. Hero of I league in the 2016-17 season. AIFF player of the year 7 times. Football Ratna Award by Football Delhi.

He has the most appearances for India which is 150 and the most Hatrick for India which is 4 and has the most goals for India in AFC competitions.              

Awards:

Sunil Chettri won the Arjuna Award in 2011 from the Government of India for outstanding achievement in sports. In 2019 he won Padma Shri, which is India’s fourth highest civilian award, and in 2021 he was awarded the Khel Ratna Award which is the highest sporting honor of India.

Sunil Chettri is not only a great sportsman but he is also a face of India Football. His Awards and Records are the motivation for young players and youth to work hard consistently. He debuted for the Indian national team in 2005 and retired for National Duty in 2024, these 19 years show longevity and consistency.