3. Bhaichung was not only good at football, but also
represented his school at basketball, badminton and
athletics.
His uncle Karma Bhutia managed Gangtok-based
Boys Club where Bhaichung played in his early
years.
Bhaichung played for several other local school
teams and clubs and brought attention to himself in
the 1992 Subroto Cup where he received the ”Best
Player” award.
4. Bhaichung Bhutia played most of his club career in West
Bengal, switching from Mohun Bagan to East Bengal
several times, and causing controversies doing it. He also
played for other clubs like JCT Mills, United Sikkim, and two
other Malaysian clubs.
In 1999, Bhutia became the first ever Indian player to sign a
professional contract in Europe when he signed for
Manchester-based side Bury, where he would spend 3
seasons. He made 37 appearances for them in the league
and managed to score only 3 goals. After the failure in
Europe, Bhutia decided it was best for him to return to India,
once again to East Bengal.
5. In Malaysia, Bhutia played for Perak FA on loan from
Mohun Bagan, and then played for Selangor MK
Land. He scored a total of 5 goals in 13 appearances
for both sides. In his split career at East Bengal and
Mohun Bagan, Bhutia scored 52 goals from 97
games and 25 goals from 56 games respectivel
.
In 2012, Bhutia signed for United Sikkim, where he
would make only 3 appearances owing to injuries. He
was made interim manager of the team in the same
year, which marked Bhutia’s managerial debut. He
currently manages the Sikkim state football team.
Bhutia has had an illustrious club career that involves
a massive 226 league games and a 100 goals from
them.
6. Bhutia announces his retirement from international football in
2011. A farewell match was held for him in January 2012 against
Bayern Munich. Bhutia then played his last club match at United
Sikkim in 2015, which marked the end of his glorious career.
He currently is on a managerial venture at Sikkim and has
founded the Bhaichung Bhutia Soccer Schools to help nurture
young talent.
7.
8.
9. Baichung Bhutia is an Indian footballer of Sikkimese – Bhutia descent. He plays as a striker. Bhutia is considered to be the torchbearer of Indian football in the international arena.
He is often nicknamed the Sikkimese Sniper because of his shooting skills in football. He became three-time Indian Player of the Year
10. Bhutia began his education in St. Xaviers School, Pakyong, East
Sikkim and gained an SAI Scholarship ultimately at an awfully young
age and attended the well-known Tashi Namgyal Academy in
Gangtok. He went on to play for numerous school and native clubs in
Sikkim. Spectacular performance at the Subroto Cup in 1992 added
him to the note of the football institution. Former Indian goalkeeper
Bhaskar Ganguly noticed his talent and helped him to make a move in
Calcutta Football. In the year 1993, at the age of sixteen, he left
college to be the part of professional East Bengal Club in Calcutta. He
was transferred to JCT Mills, Phagwara in 1995 that went on to win
the Indian National Football league that year. Bhutia was the highest
scorer in the league and was chosen to play in the Nehru Cup. He
was honoured with the “1996 Indian Player of the Year” & has clinched
various alternative awards since then.
11. Bhutia transferred to JCT Mills in 1993 which won the India National
Football League in the 1996–97 Season. Since he was the top goal
scorer in the league, he was selected to make his international
debut in the Nehru Cup.
Bhutia scored well at the Nehru Cup in 1995 against Uzbekistan
becoming India’s youngest goalkeeper, at the age of 19. In 1997, he
returned to East Bengal. Bhutia has the distinction of securing the
first hat-trick in the local derby between East Bengal and Mohun
Bagan when he won East Bengal 4–1 in the 1997 Federation Cup
semi-finals. He became the captain of the team in the 1998-99
Season, during which East Bengal finished second in the league
after Salgaocar. Besides, he became the 19th footballer to receive
the Arjuna Award in 1999, with which the Government of India
bestows athletes to recognize their outstanding achievements in
12. Bhutia got the attention of everyone for the very first time at the Subroto Cup
1992 held at Delhi, where he was bestowed upon the Best Player award.
Bhutia was the top goal scorer, playing for the JCT FC in 1996-97 season.
Bhaichung was bestowed upon the Indian Player of the Year award in 1996.
Further, he came back to East Bengal in 1997 and led his team in the year
1998-99.
Bhutia was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 1999.
Bhaichung scored his first hat-trick against Mohun Bagan, playing for East
Bengal FC in 1997.
Bhutia became “Player of the National Football League”, honoured by All India
Football Federation (AIFF), playing for East Bengal in 2005-06 season.
Bestowed with Padam Shri Award in 2008
The 2009 Nehru Cup was great for Bhutia, as he earned his 100th cap for India
in a 2–1 win against Kyrgyzstan. He became India’s first player to reach this
milestone.
In 2014, Bhutia was awarded by Banga Bhushan Award.
13. Arjuna Award for football in 1998
Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, in 2008
Banga Bhushan award in 2014
Asian Football Hall of Fame in 2014
