Baichung Bhutia
Encyclopedia
Baichung Bhutia (born 15 December 1976) is an ex Indian footballer. He is currently contracted by the club he owns, United Sikkim
. He is considered to be the torchbearer of Indian football in the international arena. He plays for United Sikkim FC
. He is often nicknamed the Sikkimese Sniper because of his shooting skills in football. Three-time Indian Player of the Year I. M. Vijayan
described Bhutia as "God's gift to Indian football".
Bhutia has had four spells at I-League
football team East Bengal Club
, the club where he started his career. When he signed up to play for the English
club Bury F.C.
in 1999 he became the first Indian footballer to play professional football in Europe. Afterwards he had a short loan
spell at the Malaysian football club Perak FA
. As well as this he has played for JCT Mills, which won the league once during his tenure; and Mohun Bagan, which failed to win the league once during his two spells, in his native India. His international footballing honours include winning the Nehru Cup, LG Cup, South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship
(three times) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup
. He is also India's most capped
player, and in the 2009 Nehru Cup he received his 100th international cap.
Off the field, Bhutia is known for winning the reality television programme Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa
, which caused much controversy with his then-club Mohun Bagan, and for being the first Indian athlete to boycott
the Olympic torch relay in support of the Tibetan independence movement. Bhutia, who has a football stadium
named after him in honour of his contribution to Indian football (first player to have such honour while he is still playing), has also won many awards such as the Arjuna Award
and the Padma Shri
.
On 28 October 2010 he started Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools
in Delhi in partnership with Football by Carlos Queiroz
and Nike, Inc.
On 24 August 2011, he announced his retirement from international football. His farewell match will be with the India national football team
playing FC Bayern Munich
at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi on 10 January 10 2012 at 6:00 pm".
on 15 December 1976 to Dorji Dorma and Sonam Topden. His elder brother was a footballer at the local level. In addition to football, Baichung also represented his school at badminton
, basketball
and athletics. His parents, both farmers in Sikkim, were originally not keen on Bhutia's interest in sports. However, after encouragement from his uncle Karma Bhutia, he started his education in St. Xaviers School, Pakyong
, East Sikkim
, and at the age of nine he won a football scholarship from SAI
to attend the Tashi Namgyal Academy
in Gangtok
.
He went on to play for several school and local clubs in his home state of Sikkim
including the Gangtok-based Boys Club, which was coached by Karma Bhutia. His performance at the 1992 Subroto Cup
, where he won the "Best Player" award, brought him to the notice of the football establishment. Former India goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly
spotted his talent and helped him make the transition to Calcutta football.
In 1993, at the age of sixteen, he left school to join the professional East Bengal Club
in Calcutta. Two years later he transferred to JCT Mills in Phagwara
, which went on to win the India National Football League
in the 1996–97 season. Bhutia was the top goalscorer in the league, and was chosen to make his international debut in the Nehru Cup
. He was named "1996 Indian Player of the Year".
In 1997 he returned to East Bengal Club
. Bhutia has the distinction of scoring the first hat-trick
in the local derby
between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, when he registered one in East Bengal's 4–1 victory in the 1997 Federation Cup
semi-final. He became team captain in the 1998–99 season
, during which East Bengal finished second behind Salgaocar in the league. Furthermore he became the 19th footballer to receive the Arjuna Award
in 1999, which the Government of India
gives out to athletes to recognise their "outstanding achievements" in national sports.
in Greater Manchester
, England, signing a three-year contract, and became the first Indian footballer to play professionally in Europe. This followed unsuccessful trials for Bhutia with Fulham
, West Bromwich Albion
and Aston Villa
. He had difficulty obtaining a visa
and could not make his debut until 3 October 1999 against Cardiff City
. In that match he came on as a substitute for Ian Lawson and played a part in Bury's second goal which was scored by Darren Bullock
after Bhutia's volley
was deflected into his path. On 15 April 2000, he scored his first goal in the English league in the game against Chesterfield
. A recurring knee injury limited him to only three games in his final season at Bury and he was released after the club was placed in administration
. His final appearance was a 3–0 defeat to Swindon Town
on 27 August 2001.
and failed to play again that season, missing Mohun Bagan's only trophy win; the All Airlines Gold Cup. Afterwards he again returned to the East Bengal Club
, helping them to win the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Cup 2003
. Bhutia scored a goal in the final
, a 3–1 win over BEC Tero Sasana
, and was named the "man of the match
". He also finished as the top scorer of the Championship with nine goals. Bhutia also scored in the 1–1 draw against Petrokimia Putra and scored five goals in a 6–0 win against Philippine Army FC
in the same tournament.
He signed up to play for Perak FA
, the Malaysian championship club, from August to October 2003 on loan and returned to East Bengal Club
for the regular season. However his stint at Perak FA
ended in a 3–1 defeat to Sabah FA
in the Malaysia Cup
semi-finals, after which Bhutia described himself as the "villain of the piece". In the 2003–04 season
Bhutia scored 12 goals as East Bengal won the league by four points from second-placed Dempo SC. During the 2004–05 season
, Bhutia scored nine goals for East Bengal, which finished in third place behind SC Goa
and champions Dempo. He continued to play for East Bengal until the end of the 2005–06 season
. In his final season there he was awarded the "Player of the National Football League" by the All India Football Federation
(AIFF) in a season where he scored 12 goals. Despite this, East Bengal finished runners-up to Mahindra United
in the league.
In 2005, Bhutia again signed up for Malaysian championship club, this time for Selangor MK Land
and played 5 matches only
as club had monetary problem and now its a defunct football club.
He also got offer from Home United FC
when Steve Darby
was their coach but rejected the offer. Steve Derby later revealed that he fail to sign Bhutia because the offer he made was less than what he was getting in India that time.
On 15 June 2006, he joined Mohun Bagan AC and formed an attacking partnership with Jose Ramirez Barreto
. However the 2006–07 season
was a poor one for Bhutia and Mohun Bagan as they finished eighth in the league, just one position above relegation. During the 2007–08 season
(the league was now known as the I-League
), Bhutia scored 10 goals in 18 matches, and Mohun Bagan finished slightly higher in the league in fourth place. Bhutia won the Indian Player of the Year for the second time in 2008. In winning the award he became only the second footballer to win it more than once; the other was I. M. Vijayan
. In the 2008–09 season, despite a 10-match winning streak, Mohun Bagan finished in second place behind Churchill Brothers because of a final day loss to Mahindra United. Bhutia finished the season with six goals.
On 18 May 2009, Bhutia announced he would quit Mohun Bagan, due to the questioning of his footballing commitment by the club's officials. As a result of the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa incident he was suspended for six months by Mohun Bagan. Bhutia was quoted saying "It is just a ploy to keep me at Mohun Bagan for another season. But I will not play for them any more."
, "This is really my homecoming. This is the club from where it all started and it is here where it is going to end." The situation was further complicated, however, as Mohun Bagan's general secretary
Anjan Mitra said "Our contract with Bhaichung is perfectly legal and he has one more year left with us." Bhutia’s lawyer Usha Nath Banerjee countered this, "I doubt the legality of Bagan’s contract. In any case, according to FIFA and AIFF rules, a player who is above 28 years of age is free to make a choice of club in the third year of his contract". Bhutia and Mohun Bagan were set to meet on 17 August in the AIFF headquarters to settle their differences with AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco. On 29 August, it was announced that the issue had not been resolved yet and the outbound Colaco was set to meet Bhutia on 30 August. No compromise was reached, however, and on 5 September former additional solicitor general Amrendra Sharan was appointed to look into the dispute. On 10 September, Bhutia filed defamation charges, claiming damages of Rs.10 million, against Mohun Bagan for "trying to tarnish his reputation". Bhutia was granted interim relief on 26 September, but the case between Mohun Bagan and Bhutia is set to continue until a final verdict is reached. On 4 November, it was revealed that Mohun Bagan had approached football's governing body FIFA
to intervene in the dispute with Bhutia.
The start of the 2010–11 season will go without Bhutia until the end of January as the Indian national team will prepare and participate in the Asian Cup from November to January. Though laid low by injuries in recent months, Baichung believes he would return next season after taking a three-month break and if he ever decides to quit, he would do it from East Bengal.
against Uzbekistan
in the 1995 Nehru Cup becoming India's youngest ever goalscorer, at 19. In the 1997 SAFF Championship
, India beat the Maldives
5–1 in the final, Bhutia was responsible for one goal. Two years later the tournament
was held in Goa
and India successfully defended their title by beating Bangladesh 2–0 in the final. Baichung Bhutia scored the second goal for India after Bruno Coutinho
opened the scoring and Bhutia was named as the tournament's most valuable player.
He also netted two goals in the final of the 2002 LG Cup held in Vietnam
, in which India beat the host nation
3–2, Bhutia's goals came either side of half-time
. The football tournament of the 2003 Afro-Asian Games
saw India finish as runners-up behind Uzbekistan. Bhutia scored two goals in the tournament, both of which came in the 5–3 semi-final win over Zimbabwe
. In the 2007 Nehru Cup
, Bhutia scored a penalty
in a 6–0 victory over Cambodia
in the opening match of the tournament. He also scored in a 1–0 win over Bangladesh
and a 3–0 win over Kyrgyzstan
. Bhutia played a significant part in the final as he was involved in the build-up to N. P. Pradeep
's winning goal against Syria
during which India won 1–0 to become champions.
The next successful SAFF Championship was in 2005
where Bhutia was captain, in the group stages he scored a goal in a 3–0 victory over Bhutan
but did not score in the other two matches. India progressed to the semi-finals during which Bhutia played in the 1–0 win over the Maldives. The final was a repeat of the 1999 final, as Bangladesh were the opposition, and once again India triumphed 2–0 during which Bhutia scored the second goal in the 81st minute from close range after Mehrajuddin Wadoo's 33rd minute opener. He received the award for the Most Valuable Player and also the Fair Play trophy. The 2008 SAFF Championship
started with a 4–0 win over neighbouring Nepal
, Bhutia scored the second goal in the 34th minute. It turned out to be Bhutia's only goal of the tournament, however he did have several chances to score in the semi-final against Bhutan which saw India win 2–1 to reach the final. In the final India failed to defend their title after losing 1–0 to the Maldives.
He scored twice in a 2–1 victory in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
against Turkmenistan
to reach the semi-finals. The Sikkimese Sniper scored a goal in the final against Tajikistan
during which India won 4–1 thanks to a Sunil Chhetri hat-trick
; the victory also allowed them to automatically qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup
. He was also selected as the most valuable player of the tournament, finishing with three goals.
The 2009 Nehru Cup was significant for Bhutia as he earned his 100th cap for India in a 2–1 win over Kyrgyzstan, becoming the first Indian player to reach this milestone. He also scored the first goal in this match to help the team recover from their opening day defeat to Lebanon
. In the match against Sri Lanka
, Bhutia again scored an opening goal which helped India to win 3–1 and solidified their chances of reaching the final. He was adjudged as the "man of the match" for his performance. Bhutia missed the final match of the round-robin
as India were already guaranteed a spot in the deciding match. He was also adjudged as "Player of the Tournament" for his stellar performances in all of the matches, including the decider where they beat Syria in a penalty shootout.
At the 2011 AFC Asian Cup
in Qatar
he was injured for their first two games vs Australia and Bahrain but he came on as a secound half substitute vs Korea Republic but he couldent save India and they lost 4-1 and where eliminated. Shortly after the Asian Cup he announced his retirement for India with a record of 43 goals in 107 appearances.
|-
|2001||5||2
|-
|2002||2||0
|-
|2003||3||2
|-
|2004||4||0
|-
|2005||3||2
|-
|2006||7||1
|-
|2007||7||3
|-
|2008||11||5
|-
|2009||5||3
|-
|2010||3||0
|-
|2011||1||0
|-
!Total||107||43
|}
As his surname suggests, Bhutia comes from a Buddhist Bhutia
background, although he is, by conviction, not religious. The name "Baichung" literally means "little brother". He married his longtime girlfriend Madhuri Tipnis, a hotel professional
, on 30 December 2004 in his native village of Tinkitam in South Sikkim. His wife Madhuri gave birth to twins on 8 April 2010. The first one is a girl and the other is a boy. They were born in a private nursing home in Kolkata. His fictional hero is Howard Roark, a character from Ayn Rand
's novel The Fountainhead
, and he has a tattoo
of a footballer on his arm. The Sikkimese government has built a stadium, the Baichung Stadium
in Namchi
, the district headquarters, in honour of Bhutia. He is one of the most popular figures in the state and is considered as a role model to many Sikkimese
as well to people from other states of India. On 23 January 2008, Bhutia was nominated for the Padma Shri
, the fourth highest civilian award, for his contribution to Indian football. Three days later on 26 January, India's Republic Day
, he was chosen for the Padma Shri along with national swimming
champion Bula Choudhury
.
He played in the Goal 4 Africa match held in the Allianz Arena
, Munich, on 12 July 2008, for the Edu team, led by Clarence Seedorf
, and scored twice. In 2009, Bhutia started a foundation called the "Indian Sports Foundation" to help footballers overcome serious injuries. He is also the president
of the Football Players’ Association of India (FPAI), an organisation that promises "fair treatment" of Indian footballers by dealing with financial aspects such as pension
plans. He formed FPAI after seeing the Professional Footballers' Association
in England.
He signed an endorsement deal with Adidas
India Marketing Pvt. Ltd in November 2003. Currently he is endorsing Nike
India. After completing the deal to become the brand's ambassador for India, Bhutia said "I am confident that Nike will help elevate the sport in the country."
In 2008, Bhutia was solicited to run with the Olympic torch in India, but he refused to carry the torch
to show support for the Tibetan independence movement. "I sympathise with the Tibetan cause. I'm against violence but I thought I should stand by the Tibetan people
in their fight," Bhutia said. He was the first Indian sportsman to refuse to carry the Olympic torch. His actions have won him little praise from his colleagues in India however, who criticised him for mixing sports with politics.
In 2011, Bhutia was caught in the Sikkim earthquake
. Although he was not injured, his United Sikkim Football Club offices were completely destroyed. In the aftermath, he joined with several Bollywood
actors like Neha Dhupia
and Rahul Bose
to raise money for earthquake victims.
in Delhi
in partnership with Football by Carlos Quieroz. As of now it is on the Ryan International School field and he wants to expand these to a chain all across the country. It has foreign coaches and world class facilities,something football in India
lacks . In an effort to give something back to society he has announced free training for all underprivileged kids so as to not let insufficient funds become a setback for them to follow their dreams. Though this is not a proper football academy, he has said that youngsters with extraordinary skill would be able to train in a proper academy he said he would start in some time with Indian Filmstar John Abraham
.The kit partner for this school is Nike, Inc. This step has been welcomed by football enthusiasts who deeply respect him and want the Indian national football team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup
as soon as possible.
, the Indian version of the international series Dancing With the Stars
. Bhutia earned Rs.4 million for winning the competition, beating Karan Singh Grover
and Gauhar Khan in the final. Bhutia donated half of the prize money to charity and the other half was shared with his choreographer; he also said some money would go towards areas hit by Cyclone Aila
. It was reported that an "SMS Voting Frenzy" allowed him to win after many organisations in Sikkim conducted mass voting events (this involved participants buying mobile cash cards
so they could vote via SMS
) to increase Bhutia's chance of winning the trophy. This performance put Bhutia's relationship with his club Mohun Bagan in jeopardy, as he missed an exhibition match as well as practice sessions due to his participation in the reality show.
United Sikkim FC
United Sikkim Football Club is an Indian football club based in Sikkim in northeast India. The club is currently participating in the I-League 2nd Division...
. He is considered to be the torchbearer of Indian football in the international arena. He plays for United Sikkim FC
United Sikkim FC
United Sikkim Football Club is an Indian football club based in Sikkim in northeast India. The club is currently participating in the I-League 2nd Division...
. He is often nicknamed the Sikkimese Sniper because of his shooting skills in football. Three-time Indian Player of the Year I. M. Vijayan
I. M. Vijayan
Inivalappil Mani Vijayan is one of the leading Indian football players of modern times. Playing in the striker position, he formed a successful attacking partnership with Baichung Bhutia for the Indian national team in the late nineties and early 2000's...
described Bhutia as "God's gift to Indian football".
Bhutia has had four spells at I-League
I-League
The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
football team East Bengal Club
East Bengal Club
Kingfisher East Bengal Football Club are an Indian professional football club based at Kolkata. They are known to be one of the best footballing sides in India. They have won the most IFA Shields in Indian Football and are tied for the most National Football League and Durand Cup championships with...
, the club where he started his career. When he signed up to play for the English
Football in England
Association football is a national sport in England, where the first modern set of rules for the code were established in 1863, which were a major influence on the development of the modern Laws of the Game...
club Bury F.C.
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in 1999 he became the first Indian footballer to play professional football in Europe. Afterwards he had a short loan
Loan (football)
In sports, a loan involves a particular player being allowed to temporarily play for a club other than the one he is currently contracted to. Loan deals may last from a few weeks to all season-long....
spell at the Malaysian football club Perak FA
Perak FA
The Football Association of Perak enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Perak. The team currently plays in the Malaysia Super League....
. As well as this he has played for JCT Mills, which won the league once during his tenure; and Mohun Bagan, which failed to win the league once during his two spells, in his native India. His international footballing honours include winning the Nehru Cup, LG Cup, South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship
SAFF Championship
The SAFF Championship, also called the South Asian Football Federation Cup , is the main football competition of the men's national football teams governed by the South Asian Football Federation. Previous names have included the South Asian Association of Regional Co-operation Gold Cup in 1993 and...
(three times) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Challenge Cup
AFC Challenge Cup
The AFC Challenge Cup is an international football competition for emerging nations that are members of the Asian Football Confederation. The first tournament was hosted by Bangladesh in 2006...
. He is also India's most capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
player, and in the 2009 Nehru Cup he received his 100th international cap.
Off the field, Bhutia is known for winning the reality television programme Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is a television reality show and the Indian version of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and ABC's Dancing with the Stars.- Concept :...
, which caused much controversy with his then-club Mohun Bagan, and for being the first Indian athlete to boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
the Olympic torch relay in support of the Tibetan independence movement. Bhutia, who has a football stadium
Baichung Stadium
Baichung Stadium is a football stadium in Namchi, the district headquarters of South Sikkim district in the state of Sikkim, India. The stadium was built in honour of Baichung Bhutia, India's most well known contemporary footballer. The state plans to actively promote the sport made popular after...
named after him in honour of his contribution to Indian football (first player to have such honour while he is still playing), has also won many awards such as the Arjuna Award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
and the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
.
On 28 October 2010 he started Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools
Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools
Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools is a football youth development initiative by Bhaichung Bhutia, the Indian football team skipper, in association with Football By Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese football academy by Carlos Queiroz...
in Delhi in partnership with Football by Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Queiroz
Carlos Manuel Brito Leal Queiroz ComIH is a Portuguese football manager. He is currently the manager of the Iran national football team. A former manager of Real Madrid, and Portugal national football team, he has also twice been Alex Ferguson's assistant manager at English club Manchester...
and Nike, Inc.
On 24 August 2011, he announced his retirement from international football. His farewell match will be with the India national football team
India national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
playing FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi on 10 January 10 2012 at 6:00 pm".
Early life
Bhutia was born in TinkitamTinkitam
Tinkitam is a small town in South Sikkim, India. The town is located 45 minutes from the district headquarters Namchi. The town is being promoted as a tourist destination. Mount Kanchenjanga lies in the background of the town....
on 15 December 1976 to Dorji Dorma and Sonam Topden. His elder brother was a footballer at the local level. In addition to football, Baichung also represented his school at badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and athletics. His parents, both farmers in Sikkim, were originally not keen on Bhutia's interest in sports. However, after encouragement from his uncle Karma Bhutia, he started his education in St. Xaviers School, Pakyong
Pakyong
Pakyong is a town in the foothills of the himalayas located in the East Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Pakyong used to be a small settlement until the Central government grant for the first airport in Sikkim to be built in this town brought it into the limelight in the late...
, East Sikkim
East Sikkim
East Sikkim is one of the four administrative districts of the Indian state of Sikkim. Geographically, East Sikkim occupies the south-east corner of the state. The capital of East Sikkim is Gangtok, which is also the state capital...
, and at the age of nine he won a football scholarship from SAI
Sports Authority of India
The Sports Authority of India is a body set up by the Government of India. It was created in 1984 to help promote sport throughout the country. Presently, it has seven regional centres at Bangalore, Gandhinagar, Kolkata, Sonepat, Delhi, Mumbai and Imphal and two sub-centres at Guwahati and...
to attend the Tashi Namgyal Academy
Tashi namgyal academy
Tashi Namgyal Academy is a public school in the Himalayan state of Sikkim in India. It was founded in 1926 by the late Sir Tashi Namgyal, KCSI, KCIE, the 11th consecrated Ruler of Sikkim...
in Gangtok
Gangtok
Gangtok is the capital and largest town of the Indian state of Sikkim. Gangtok is located in the Shivalik Hills of the eastern Himalayan range, at an altitude of . The town, with a population of thirty thousand belonging to different ethnicities such as Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutia, is administered...
.
He went on to play for several school and local clubs in his home state of Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
including the Gangtok-based Boys Club, which was coached by Karma Bhutia. His performance at the 1992 Subroto Cup
Subroto Cup Football Tournament
Subroto Cup Football Tournament is an inter-school football tournament in India, named after the Indian Air Force Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee.-History:...
, where he won the "Best Player" award, brought him to the notice of the football establishment. Former India goalkeeper Bhaskar Ganguly
Bhaskar Ganguly
Bhaskar Ganguly is a former Indian football goalkeeper from West Bengal. He was the captain of Indian Soccer team in 1982 Asian games held at New Delhi. He served in Indian team in several International soccer tournaments with great success during his career in the club from 1976–1989 and again...
spotted his talent and helped him make the transition to Calcutta football.
Professional career
East Bengal Club
Kingfisher East Bengal Football Club are an Indian professional football club based at Kolkata. They are known to be one of the best footballing sides in India. They have won the most IFA Shields in Indian Football and are tied for the most National Football League and Durand Cup championships with...
in Calcutta. Two years later he transferred to JCT Mills in Phagwara
Phagwara
Phagwara is a city and a municipal council in Kapurthala district in North India, in the central part of the Punjab.-Location:Phagwara lies on the Delhi–Amritsar national highway No.01 and is also served by the rail link between Delhi and Amritsar. It is located between the two big cities of...
, which went on to win the India National Football League
National Football League (India)
The National Football League was an association football league competition in India between 1996 and 2007 which was organised into three divisions. The league is now transformed into the I-League and continues with that name...
in the 1996–97 season. Bhutia was the top goalscorer in the league, and was chosen to make his international debut in the Nehru Cup
Nehru Cup International Football Tournament
The Nehru Cup is an international association football tournament organised by the All India Football Federation . It was launched in 1982, but was not held from 1998 to 2006...
. He was named "1996 Indian Player of the Year".
In 1997 he returned to East Bengal Club
East Bengal Club
Kingfisher East Bengal Football Club are an Indian professional football club based at Kolkata. They are known to be one of the best footballing sides in India. They have won the most IFA Shields in Indian Football and are tied for the most National Football League and Durand Cup championships with...
. Bhutia has the distinction of scoring the first hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
in the local derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, when he registered one in East Bengal's 4–1 victory in the 1997 Federation Cup
Federation Cup (India)
The Federation Cup is an annual knockout style club football tournament in India. It has started in 1977. From its inception till I-League has been started in 1997 , it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India...
semi-final. He became team captain in the 1998–99 season
National Football League 1998-99 (India)
Statistics of National Football League in season 1998/1999.-Overview:It was performed in 12 teams, and Salgaocar won the championship. Kingfisher East Bengal came second and Churchil Brothers came third.-Group A:-Group B:-Second stage:-References:*...
, during which East Bengal finished second behind Salgaocar in the league. Furthermore he became the 19th footballer to receive the Arjuna Award
Arjuna award
The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000, a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll....
in 1999, which the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
gives out to athletes to recognise their "outstanding achievements" in national sports.
Bury
Bhutia has had limited opportunities in playing overseas. On 30 September 1999, Bhutia travelled overseas to play for BuryBury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 2.6 million. It encompasses one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United Kingdom and comprises ten metropolitan boroughs: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, and the...
, England, signing a three-year contract, and became the first Indian footballer to play professionally in Europe. This followed unsuccessful trials for Bhutia with Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
and Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
. He had difficulty obtaining a visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
and could not make his debut until 3 October 1999 against Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
. In that match he came on as a substitute for Ian Lawson and played a part in Bury's second goal which was scored by Darren Bullock
Darren Bullock
Darren John Bullock was a professional footballer who played for several English clubs including Huddersfield Town, Swindon Town, and Bury....
after Bhutia's volley
Volley (football)
A volley is an air-borne strike in association football, where a player's feet meets and directs the ball in an angled direction before it has time to reach the ground...
was deflected into his path. On 15 April 2000, he scored his first goal in the English league in the game against Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
. A recurring knee injury limited him to only three games in his final season at Bury and he was released after the club was placed in administration
Administration (insolvency)
As a legal concept, administration is a procedure under the insolvency laws of a number of common law jurisdictions. It functions as a rescue mechanism for insolvent entities and allows them to carry on running their business. The process – an alternative to liquidation – is often known as going...
. His final appearance was a 3–0 defeat to Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
on 27 August 2001.
Return to India
In 2002 he returned to India and played for the Mohun Bagan AC for a year. However this was largely unsuccessful as Bhutia was injured early in the seasonNational Football League 2002-03 (India)
Statistics of National Football League in season 2002/2003.-Overview:It was performed in 12 teams, and Kingfisher East Bengal won the championship under the coach Subhas Bhowmick and this was their Second title. Salgaonkar came second and Vasco again came third...
and failed to play again that season, missing Mohun Bagan's only trophy win; the All Airlines Gold Cup. Afterwards he again returned to the East Bengal Club
East Bengal Club
Kingfisher East Bengal Football Club are an Indian professional football club based at Kolkata. They are known to be one of the best footballing sides in India. They have won the most IFA Shields in Indian Football and are tied for the most National Football League and Durand Cup championships with...
, helping them to win the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Cup 2003
ASEAN Club Championship 2003
The ASEAN Club Championship 2003 fixtures and results. Kingfisher East Bengal FC from India won the inaugural championship. Originally, this inaugural championship to be organised by Vietnam, but organisation was moved to Indonesia.-Qualifying teams:...
. Bhutia scored a goal in the final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
, a 3–1 win over BEC Tero Sasana
BEC Tero Sasana
BEC Tero Sasana Football Club is a Thailand professional football club based in Bangkok. The club finished runners-up in the inaugural AFC Champions League competition in 2003.-Club history:...
, and was named the "man of the match
Man of the match
In sport, a Man of the Match or Player of the Game or Man of the Series award is given to the outstanding player, almost always the one who makes the most impact, in a particular match or series. The term was originally used more often in cricket before being adopted by other sports. This can be a...
". He also finished as the top scorer of the Championship with nine goals. Bhutia also scored in the 1–1 draw against Petrokimia Putra and scored five goals in a 6–0 win against Philippine Army FC
Philippine Army FC
The Philippine Army Football Club is an association football club based in the Philippines. It was founded in 1960 through the effort of the Philippine Army Special Services Unit. A unit that promotes sports and physical fitness within the Army, under the direction of the Commanding General...
in the same tournament.
He signed up to play for Perak FA
Perak FA
The Football Association of Perak enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Perak. The team currently plays in the Malaysia Super League....
, the Malaysian championship club, from August to October 2003 on loan and returned to East Bengal Club
East Bengal Club
Kingfisher East Bengal Football Club are an Indian professional football club based at Kolkata. They are known to be one of the best footballing sides in India. They have won the most IFA Shields in Indian Football and are tied for the most National Football League and Durand Cup championships with...
for the regular season. However his stint at Perak FA
Perak FA
The Football Association of Perak enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the state of Perak. The team currently plays in the Malaysia Super League....
ended in a 3–1 defeat to Sabah FA
Sabah FA
The Football Association of Sabah is a registered football association affiliated with the Football Association of Malaysia. The association's football team competes in Malaysia's football league representing the state of Sabah in Borneo. Sabah FA is a professional football club and one of the 14...
in the Malaysia Cup
Malaysia Cup
The Malaysia Cup is an annual association football tournament in Malaysia. It is currently the longest-running football competition in Asia...
semi-finals, after which Bhutia described himself as the "villain of the piece". In the 2003–04 season
National Football League 2003-04 (India)
Statistics of National Football League in season 2003/2004.-Overview:It was performed in 12 teams, and Kingfisher East Bengal won the championship under the coach Subhas Bhowmick. Dempo came second and Mahindra came third. Indian Bank and Mohammedan were relegated from the National Football League...
Bhutia scored 12 goals as East Bengal won the league by four points from second-placed Dempo SC. During the 2004–05 season
National Football League 2004-05 (India)
Statistics of National Football League in season 2004/2005.-Overview:It was performed in 12 teams, and Dempo won the championship under the coach Armando Colaco. This was their first title. Sporting Clube de Goa came second and Kingfisher East Bengal came third...
, Bhutia scored nine goals for East Bengal, which finished in third place behind SC Goa
Sporting Clube de Goa
Sporting Clube de Goa is a association football club based in the Indian state of Goa who currently participate in the I-League which is India's number one league competition in the country...
and champions Dempo. He continued to play for East Bengal until the end of the 2005–06 season
National Football League 2005-06 (India)
-Overview:It was performed in 10 teams, and Mahindra United won the championship under the coach Derrick Pereira and this was their first title. Kingfisher East Bengal came second while Mohun Bagan came as third. Fransa Pax and Salgaocar were relegated from the National Football League...
. In his final season there he was awarded the "Player of the National Football League" by the All India Football Federation
All India Football Federation
The All India Football Federation is the organisation which manages the game of association football in India. It administers the running of the India national football team and also controls the I-League, India's premier domestic club competition, in addition to various other competitions and...
(AIFF) in a season where he scored 12 goals. Despite this, East Bengal finished runners-up to Mahindra United
Mahindra United
Mahindra United Football Club was a professional football club based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Their home ground was the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai...
in the league.
In 2005, Bhutia again signed up for Malaysian championship club, this time for Selangor MK Land
MK Land FC
MK Land Football Club is a defunct football club from Malaysia, based in Selayang, Selangor. They then withdrew from the 2006 Premier League competition, citing financial difficulties...
and played 5 matches only
as club had monetary problem and now its a defunct football club.
He also got offer from Home United FC
Home United FC
Home United Football Club is a professional soccer club which plays in Singapore's S.League.-History:The Police Sports Association was founded in the mid-1940s to organise football activities for the Singapore Police Force. They sent two teams to compete in the Singapore Amateur Football...
when Steve Darby
Steve Darby
Stephen David "Steve" Darby is an English football coach who currently coaches Mohun Bagan A.C. of the I-League. He is well known throughout Asia as a pundit for ESPN Star Sports.-Playing career:...
was their coach but rejected the offer. Steve Derby later revealed that he fail to sign Bhutia because the offer he made was less than what he was getting in India that time.
On 15 June 2006, he joined Mohun Bagan AC and formed an attacking partnership with Jose Ramirez Barreto
Jose Ramirez Barreto
Jose Ramirez Barreto is a Brazilian football player who is currently playing for his second period with the Indian football club Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. He plays as withdrawn forward or playmaker but also can play as striker and midfielder...
. However the 2006–07 season
National Football League 2006-07 (India)
Statistics of National Football League in season 2006/2007.-Overview:It was performed in 10 teams, and Dempo won the championship under the coach Armando Colaco. It was their Second title. JCT came second and Mahindra came third...
was a poor one for Bhutia and Mohun Bagan as they finished eighth in the league, just one position above relegation. During the 2007–08 season
I-League 2007-08
The I-League season 2007-08 kicked off on 24 November 2007 at the Fatorda Stadium, Margao, Goa. The first match of the season was played between the two Goan clubs Dempo and Salgaocar....
(the league was now known as the I-League
I-League
The I-League is an Indian football league for association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 14 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation of two teams each year with the I-League 2nd Division...
), Bhutia scored 10 goals in 18 matches, and Mohun Bagan finished slightly higher in the league in fourth place. Bhutia won the Indian Player of the Year for the second time in 2008. In winning the award he became only the second footballer to win it more than once; the other was I. M. Vijayan
I. M. Vijayan
Inivalappil Mani Vijayan is one of the leading Indian football players of modern times. Playing in the striker position, he formed a successful attacking partnership with Baichung Bhutia for the Indian national team in the late nineties and early 2000's...
. In the 2008–09 season, despite a 10-match winning streak, Mohun Bagan finished in second place behind Churchill Brothers because of a final day loss to Mahindra United. Bhutia finished the season with six goals.
On 18 May 2009, Bhutia announced he would quit Mohun Bagan, due to the questioning of his footballing commitment by the club's officials. As a result of the Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa incident he was suspended for six months by Mohun Bagan. Bhutia was quoted saying "It is just a ploy to keep me at Mohun Bagan for another season. But I will not play for them any more."
East Bengal "homecoming"
Bhutia was reported to have officially signed for East Bengal on 22 June 2009, on a one-year contract, announcing that he would end his playing career at the club. Upon signing for East Bengal, Bhutia declared it to be his homecomingHomecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
, "This is really my homecoming. This is the club from where it all started and it is here where it is going to end." The situation was further complicated, however, as Mohun Bagan's general secretary
General secretary
-International intergovernmental organizations:-International nongovernmental organizations:-Sports governing bodies:...
Anjan Mitra said "Our contract with Bhaichung is perfectly legal and he has one more year left with us." Bhutia’s lawyer Usha Nath Banerjee countered this, "I doubt the legality of Bagan’s contract. In any case, according to FIFA and AIFF rules, a player who is above 28 years of age is free to make a choice of club in the third year of his contract". Bhutia and Mohun Bagan were set to meet on 17 August in the AIFF headquarters to settle their differences with AIFF general secretary Alberto Colaco. On 29 August, it was announced that the issue had not been resolved yet and the outbound Colaco was set to meet Bhutia on 30 August. No compromise was reached, however, and on 5 September former additional solicitor general Amrendra Sharan was appointed to look into the dispute. On 10 September, Bhutia filed defamation charges, claiming damages of Rs.10 million, against Mohun Bagan for "trying to tarnish his reputation". Bhutia was granted interim relief on 26 September, but the case between Mohun Bagan and Bhutia is set to continue until a final verdict is reached. On 4 November, it was revealed that Mohun Bagan had approached football's governing body FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
to intervene in the dispute with Bhutia.
The start of the 2010–11 season will go without Bhutia until the end of January as the Indian national team will prepare and participate in the Asian Cup from November to January. Though laid low by injuries in recent months, Baichung believes he would return next season after taking a three-month break and if he ever decides to quit, he would do it from East Bengal.
International career
Bhutia scored in his international debut for IndiaIndia national football team
The Indian national football team is the national football team of India and is governed by the All India Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation. Since 1948, the AIFF has been affiliated with FIFA, the international governing body for football. In 1954, AIFF became...
against Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan national football team
The Uzbekistan national football team represents Uzbekistan in association football and is controlled by the Uzbekistan Football Federation, the governing body for football in Uzbekistan...
in the 1995 Nehru Cup becoming India's youngest ever goalscorer, at 19. In the 1997 SAFF Championship
South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup 1997
The 1997 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup was held in Kathmandu, Nepal between 4 September 1997 and 13 September 1997.-Group A:---------Group B:---------Semi-finals:-----Third Place Match:-Final:-Champion:...
, India beat the Maldives
Maldives national football team
The Maldives national football team is the national team of the Maldives and is controlled by the Football Association of Maldives. A member of the AFC, it qualified for the second stage of Asian qualifying for the 2006 World Cup, where it drew with South Korea at home 0–0.Maldives most significant...
5–1 in the final, Bhutia was responsible for one goal. Two years later the tournament
South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup 1999
The 1999 South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup was held in Goa, India between 22 January 1999 and 1 May 1999. The Nehru Stadium in Margao played host to all matches.-Group A:---------Group B:---------Semi-finals:----...
was held in Goa
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
and India successfully defended their title by beating Bangladesh 2–0 in the final. Baichung Bhutia scored the second goal for India after Bruno Coutinho
Bruno Coutinho
Bruno Coutinho is a football player from Goa, and winner of the Arjuna Award in 2001, a national Indian award for excellence in sport.-Former Indian captain:...
opened the scoring and Bhutia was named as the tournament's most valuable player.
He also netted two goals in the final of the 2002 LG Cup held in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, in which India beat the host nation
Vietnam national football team
The Vietnam national football team is the national football team representing Vietnam and is managed by the Vietnam Football Federation.In the FIFA World Rankings, Vietnam's highest standing was in the first release of the figures, in September 1998, at 84th...
3–2, Bhutia's goals came either side of half-time
Half-time
In some team sports such as association football and rugby, matches are played in two halves. Half-time is the name given to the interval between the two halves of the match...
. The football tournament of the 2003 Afro-Asian Games
2003 Afro-Asian Games
The 2003 Afro-Asian Games, officially known as the First Afro-Asian Games or I Afro-Asian Games and unofficially known as the Inaugural Afro-Asian Games, was a major international multi-sport event held in Hyderabad, India, from October 24 to November 1, 2003.The Afro-Asian Games...
saw India finish as runners-up behind Uzbekistan. Bhutia scored two goals in the tournament, both of which came in the 5–3 semi-final win over Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe national football team
The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, is the national team of Zimbabwe and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were known as the Southern Rhodesia national football team from 1939–1964, then the Rhodesia national football team until 1980, when Rhodesia...
. In the 2007 Nehru Cup
Nehru Cup International Football Tournament 2007
The 2007 Nehru Cup International Football Tournament also known as the ONGC Nehru Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by ONGC, was the 13th edition of the Nehru Cup a tournament organized by the All India Football Federation since 1982...
, Bhutia scored a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in a 6–0 victory over Cambodia
Cambodia national football team
The Cambodia national football team is the national team of Cambodia and is controlled by the Football Federation of Cambodia . It was known as the Khmer Republic national football team from 1970 to 1975. It finished fourth in the 1972 Asian Cup, but is currently one of the weakest teams in the...
in the opening match of the tournament. He also scored in a 1–0 win over Bangladesh
Bangladesh national football team
The Bangladesh national football team is the national team of Bangladesh controlled by the Bangladesh Football Federation. It is a member of the Asian Football Confederation and has yet to qualify for the World Cup finals...
and a 3–0 win over Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan national football team
The Kyrgyzstan national football team is the national team of Kyrgyzstan and is controlled by the Football Federation of Kyrgyz Republic.-History:...
. Bhutia played a significant part in the final as he was involved in the build-up to N. P. Pradeep
N. P. Pradeep
Naduparambil Pappachen Pradeep is an Indian footballer. A defender by trade, Pradeep hails from Thodupuzha, Idukki district in Kerala. He was also the captain of India's U23 team. Pradeep plays for Mohun Bagan of the I-League.-Career:...
's winning goal against Syria
Syria national football team
The Syria national football team represents Syria in association football and is controlled by the Syrian Football Association, the governing body for football in Syria. Syria's home grounds are Abbasiyyin Stadium and Aleppo International Stadium...
during which India won 1–0 to become champions.
The next successful SAFF Championship was in 2005
South Asian Football Federation Gold Cup 2005
The 2005 South Asian Football Federation Cup was hosted in Karachi, Pakistan from December 7 to December 17.Bangladesh and India played out the final in a repeat of the 1999 final. Just as in the 1999 final, India beat Bangladesh 2-0 with goals from Mehraj Din Wadoo and Baichung Bhutia. Bhutia was...
where Bhutia was captain, in the group stages he scored a goal in a 3–0 victory over Bhutan
Bhutan national football team
The Bhutan national football team is the national team of Bhutan and is controlled by the Bhutan Football Federation.- History :While a Bhutanese National football team has existed since the 1970s, it was officially founded in 1983 and joined FIFA in 2000....
but did not score in the other two matches. India progressed to the semi-finals during which Bhutia played in the 1–0 win over the Maldives. The final was a repeat of the 1999 final, as Bangladesh were the opposition, and once again India triumphed 2–0 during which Bhutia scored the second goal in the 81st minute from close range after Mehrajuddin Wadoo's 33rd minute opener. He received the award for the Most Valuable Player and also the Fair Play trophy. The 2008 SAFF Championship
SAFF Championship 2008
The 2008 SAFF Championship was held in Malé, Maldives and Colombo, Sri Lanka between June 3 and June 14, 2008. '.Initially, the tournament was due to be held in 2007 but was postponed to 2008.-Group A:--------------------...
started with a 4–0 win over neighbouring Nepal
Nepal national football team
The Nepal national football team is the national team of Nepal and is controlled by the All Nepal Football Association. A member of the Asian Football Confederation , the Nepalese football team play their home games at Dasarath Rangasala Stadium located at Tripureswhor in Kathmandu. The All Nepal...
, Bhutia scored the second goal in the 34th minute. It turned out to be Bhutia's only goal of the tournament, however he did have several chances to score in the semi-final against Bhutan which saw India win 2–1 to reach the final. In the final India failed to defend their title after losing 1–0 to the Maldives.
He scored twice in a 2–1 victory in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup
2008 AFC Challenge Cup
The 2008 AFC Challenge Cup football tournament was hosted by India and played from July 30 to August 13, 2008. India won the final against Tajikistan...
against Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan national football team
The Turkmenistan national football team is the national team of Turkmenistan and is controlled by the Football Federation of Turkmenistan.-History:After the country gained independence, they played their first match against Kazakhstan on June 1, 1992...
to reach the semi-finals. The Sikkimese Sniper scored a goal in the final against Tajikistan
Tajikistan national football team
The Tajikistan national football team represents Tajikistan in association football and is controlled by the Tajikistan National Football Federation, the governing body for football in Tajikistan. Tajikistan's home ground is Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe....
during which India won 4–1 thanks to a Sunil Chhetri hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
; the victory also allowed them to automatically qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup
2011 AFC Asian Cup
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Qatar on 7–29 January 2011. It was the fifteenth time the tournament has been held, and the second time it has been hosted by Qatar, the other being the 1988 AFC Asian Cup...
. He was also selected as the most valuable player of the tournament, finishing with three goals.
The 2009 Nehru Cup was significant for Bhutia as he earned his 100th cap for India in a 2–1 win over Kyrgyzstan, becoming the first Indian player to reach this milestone. He also scored the first goal in this match to help the team recover from their opening day defeat to Lebanon
Lebanon national football team
The Lebanon national football team represents the Republic of Lebanon in international association football. Their official nickname is The Cedars...
. In the match against Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka national football team
The Sri Lanka national football team represents Sri Lanka in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka, the governing body for football in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's home grounds are Sugathadasa Stadium and Kalutara Stadium and their head coach is Jang Jung...
, Bhutia again scored an opening goal which helped India to win 3–1 and solidified their chances of reaching the final. He was adjudged as the "man of the match" for his performance. Bhutia missed the final match of the round-robin
Round-robin tournament
A round-robin tournament is a competition "in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn".-Terminology:...
as India were already guaranteed a spot in the deciding match. He was also adjudged as "Player of the Tournament" for his stellar performances in all of the matches, including the decider where they beat Syria in a penalty shootout.
At the 2011 AFC Asian Cup
2011 AFC Asian Cup
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Qatar on 7–29 January 2011. It was the fifteenth time the tournament has been held, and the second time it has been hosted by Qatar, the other being the 1988 AFC Asian Cup...
in Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
he was injured for their first two games vs Australia and Bahrain but he came on as a secound half substitute vs Korea Republic but he couldent save India and they lost 4-1 and where eliminated. Shortly after the Asian Cup he announced his retirement for India with a record of 43 goals in 107 appearances.
International
|95–00||56||25|-
|2001||5||2
|-
|2002||2||0
|-
|2003||3||2
|-
|2004||4||0
|-
|2005||3||2
|-
|2006||7||1
|-
|2007||7||3
|-
|2008||11||5
|-
|2009||5||3
|-
|2010||3||0
|-
|2011||1||0
|-
!Total||107||43
|}
Life outside football
Bhutia
The Bhutia are ethnic Tibetans who speak Sikkimese, a Tibetan dialect fairly mutually intelligible to standard Tibetan. In 2001, the Bhutia numbered around 70,300...
background, although he is, by conviction, not religious. The name "Baichung" literally means "little brother". He married his longtime girlfriend Madhuri Tipnis, a hotel professional
Hotel manager
A hotel manager or hotelier is a person who holds a management occupation within a hotel, motel, or resort establishment. Management titles and duties vary by company. In some hotels the title hotel manager or hotelier may solely be referred to the General Manager of the hotel...
, on 30 December 2004 in his native village of Tinkitam in South Sikkim. His wife Madhuri gave birth to twins on 8 April 2010. The first one is a girl and the other is a boy. They were born in a private nursing home in Kolkata. His fictional hero is Howard Roark, a character from Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand was a Russian-American novelist, philosopher, playwright, and screenwriter. She is known for her two best-selling novels The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged and for developing a philosophical system she called Objectivism....
's novel The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead
The Fountainhead is a 1943 novel by Ayn Rand. It was Rand's first major literary success and brought her fame and financial success. More than 6.5 million copies of the book have been sold worldwide....
, and he has a tattoo
Tattoo
A tattoo is made by inserting indelible ink into the dermis layer of the skin to change the pigment. Tattoos on humans are a type of body modification, and tattoos on other animals are most commonly used for identification purposes...
of a footballer on his arm. The Sikkimese government has built a stadium, the Baichung Stadium
Baichung Stadium
Baichung Stadium is a football stadium in Namchi, the district headquarters of South Sikkim district in the state of Sikkim, India. The stadium was built in honour of Baichung Bhutia, India's most well known contemporary footballer. The state plans to actively promote the sport made popular after...
in Namchi
Namchi
Namchi is the capital of the South Sikkim district in the Indian state of Sikkim. The appellation Namchi means Sky High in Bhutia.- Geography :Namchi is located at . It has an average elevation of 1315 metres ....
, the district headquarters, in honour of Bhutia. He is one of the most popular figures in the state and is considered as a role model to many Sikkimese
Sikkimese people
Sikkimese people inhabit the Indian state of Sikkim. The indigenous peoples of Sikkim consist of the Lepcha, Limbu, migrating from Tibet, Bhutias, descendants of Buddhists who arrived from Nepal in 15th century, who migrated from the Kham district of Tibet in the 14th century, and Nepali,...
as well to people from other states of India. On 23 January 2008, Bhutia was nominated for the Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
, the fourth highest civilian award, for his contribution to Indian football. Three days later on 26 January, India's Republic Day
Republic Day (India)
The Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950....
, he was chosen for the Padma Shri along with national swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
champion Bula Choudhury
Bula Choudhury
Bula Choudhury is a former national women's swimming champion of India. She is the first woman to cross seven seas. She twice swam the English Channel first in 1989 and again in 1999. She was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1990. She is now is planning to establish a swimming academy in Kolkatta...
.
He played in the Goal 4 Africa match held in the Allianz Arena
Allianz Arena
The Allianz Arena is a football stadium in the north of Munich, Bavaria, Germany. The two professional Munich football clubs FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 München have played their home games at Allianz Arena since the start of the 2005–06 season...
, Munich, on 12 July 2008, for the Edu team, led by Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Seedorf
Clarence Clyde Seedorf OON is a Dutch footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder for Serie A club Milan. Seedorf is the first player to have won the Champions League with three different clubs - Ajax in 1995, Real Madrid in 1998 and Milan in 2003 and 2007...
, and scored twice. In 2009, Bhutia started a foundation called the "Indian Sports Foundation" to help footballers overcome serious injuries. He is also the president
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Football Players’ Association of India (FPAI), an organisation that promises "fair treatment" of Indian footballers by dealing with financial aspects such as pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
plans. He formed FPAI after seeing the Professional Footballers' Association
Professional Footballers' Association
The Professional Footballers' Association is the trade union for professional footballers in England and Wales. The world's oldest professional sport trade union, it has 4,000 members....
in England.
He signed an endorsement deal with Adidas
Adidas
Adidas AG is a German sports apparel manufacturer and parent company of the Adidas Group, which consists of the Reebok sportswear company, TaylorMade-Adidas golf company , and Rockport...
India Marketing Pvt. Ltd in November 2003. Currently he is endorsing Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
India. After completing the deal to become the brand's ambassador for India, Bhutia said "I am confident that Nike will help elevate the sport in the country."
In 2008, Bhutia was solicited to run with the Olympic torch in India, but he refused to carry the torch
2008 Summer Olympics torch relay
The 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from March 24 until August 8, 2008, prior to the 2008 Summer Olympics, with the theme of "one world, one dream". Plans for the relay were announced on April 26, 2007, in Beijing, China...
to show support for the Tibetan independence movement. "I sympathise with the Tibetan cause. I'm against violence but I thought I should stand by the Tibetan people
Tibetan people
The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
in their fight," Bhutia said. He was the first Indian sportsman to refuse to carry the Olympic torch. His actions have won him little praise from his colleagues in India however, who criticised him for mixing sports with politics.
In 2011, Bhutia was caught in the Sikkim earthquake
2011 Sikkim earthquake
The 2011 Sikkim earthquake , also known as the 2011 Himalayan earthquake , was a magnitude 6.9 earthquake centered within the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, near the border of Nepal and the Indian state of Sikkim, at 18:10 IST on Sunday, 18 September 2011...
. Although he was not injured, his United Sikkim Football Club offices were completely destroyed. In the aftermath, he joined with several Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
actors like Neha Dhupia
Neha Dhupia
Neha Dhupia is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. She is a former beauty queen and winner of Femina Miss India 2002.-Early life:...
and Rahul Bose
Rahul Bose
Rahul Bose is an Indian actor, screenwriter, director, social activist, and rugby union player.Bose has appeared in Hindi films such as Pyaar Ke Side Effects and Jhankaar Beats. Time magazine named him "the superstar of Indian arthouse cinema" for his work in parallel cinema films like English,...
to raise money for earthquake victims.
Baichung Bhutia Football Schools
On 28 October 2010, he started Bhaichung Bhutia Football SchoolsBhaichung Bhutia Football Schools
Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools is a football youth development initiative by Bhaichung Bhutia, the Indian football team skipper, in association with Football By Carlos Queiroz, the Portuguese football academy by Carlos Queiroz...
in Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
in partnership with Football by Carlos Quieroz. As of now it is on the Ryan International School field and he wants to expand these to a chain all across the country. It has foreign coaches and world class facilities,something football in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
lacks . In an effort to give something back to society he has announced free training for all underprivileged kids so as to not let insufficient funds become a setback for them to follow their dreams. Though this is not a proper football academy, he has said that youngsters with extraordinary skill would be able to train in a proper academy he said he would start in some time with Indian Filmstar John Abraham
John Abraham (actor)
John Abraham is an Indian film actor and former model. After modeling for numerous advertisements and companies, Abraham made his film debut with Jism , which earned him a Filmfare Best Debut Award nomination. This was followed by his first commercial success, Dhoom...
.The kit partner for this school is Nike, Inc. This step has been welcomed by football enthusiasts who deeply respect him and want the Indian national football team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
as soon as possible.
Jhalak Dikhlaa Jaa
In 2009, partnering with choreographer Sonia Jaffer, he won the third season of Jhalak Dikhhla JaaJhalak Dikhhla Jaa
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is a television reality show and the Indian version of BBC's Strictly Come Dancing and ABC's Dancing with the Stars.- Concept :...
, the Indian version of the international series Dancing With the Stars
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...
. Bhutia earned Rs.4 million for winning the competition, beating Karan Singh Grover
Karan Singh Grover
Karan Singh Grover is an Indian television actor and model. He began his television career in Ekta Kapoor's Kitni Mast Hai Zindagi on MTV India. Karan is most recognized for playing the role of Dr. Armaan Mallik in Dill Mill Gayye on Star One.-Personal life:Karan Singh Grover was born in Delhi...
and Gauhar Khan in the final. Bhutia donated half of the prize money to charity and the other half was shared with his choreographer; he also said some money would go towards areas hit by Cyclone Aila
Cyclone Aila
Cyclone Aila was the second tropical cyclone of the 2009 North Indian Ocean cyclone season...
. It was reported that an "SMS Voting Frenzy" allowed him to win after many organisations in Sikkim conducted mass voting events (this involved participants buying mobile cash cards
ATM card
An ATM card is a card issued by a bank, credit union or building society that can be used at an ATM for deposits, withdrawals, account information, and other types of transactions, often through interbank networks.Some ATM cards can also be used:* at a branch, as identification for in-person...
so they could vote via SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
) to increase Bhutia's chance of winning the trophy. This performance put Bhutia's relationship with his club Mohun Bagan in jeopardy, as he missed an exhibition match as well as practice sessions due to his participation in the reality show.
External links
- IndianFootball.com - India's Premier Football Site
- Baichung Bhutia at IndianFootball.com
- Kolkata Football- Indian and International Football Site
- Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools