Pradip Kumar Banerjee
Encyclopedia
Pradip Kumar Banerjee(Oct 15, 1936 – ) or PK Banerjee as he is called often, is one of the famous football players in India. He was born in Jalpaiguri
in West Bengal
. He was one of the first recipients of Arjuna Award
, when the awards were instituted in 1961. He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award
in 1990 and was named Indian Footballer of the 20th Century by FIFA. He represented India for 13 years, and was one of the top scorers in Asia at that time.
in West Bengal
. He studied in Jalpaiguri Zilla School and
completed his schooling from H.P.M. School in Jamshedpur. He was barely 15 when he played as right-winger for Bihar
in the Santosh Trophy
.
later moving on to represent Eastern Railway Soccer Club. He played striker
position in football and had scored 65 goals in 84 international games which he played during his career. His first game as part of the Indian team, was in the 1955 Quadrangular tournament in Dhaka
, East Pakistan
(now capital of Bangladesh
) at the age of 19.
He represented India in three Asian Games namely, the 1958 Asian Games
in Tokyo
, the 1962 Asian Games
in Jakarta
where India clinched the gold medal in football and then the 1966 Asian Games
in Bangkok
. He became an olympian at the age of 20, when he was part of the national team that played at the 1956 Summer Olympics
in Melbourne
. He was the captain of the Indian Football Team at the 1960 Summer Olympics
in Rome
, where he scored the famous equaliser against France to hold a 1-1 draw. He represented India thrice at the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur
where India won silver in 1959 and 1964 and bronze in 1965. Recurring injuries forced him to drop out of the national team leading to his retirement in 1967.
After his retirement, his first stint at coaching came with the East Bengal Football Club
, one of the clubs best times from 1970 to 1975, when they won the Calcutta League six consecutive times. In the 1977 season he guided the Mohan Bagan Football Club to a historic feat, winning the IFA Shield, Rovers Cup and Durand Cup respectively to achieve their first-ever triple-crown triumph in one season. He became the national coach for the first time in 1972 when he coached the Indian side for the qualifying matches of the 1972 Munich Olympics. He went on to coach the Indian Football Team from 1972 to 1986. He joined the Tata Football Academy at Jamshedpur as its Technical Director from 1991 to 1997. PK was awarded the player of the Millennium in 2005 by FIFA. He had also won the International Fair Play Award from the Olympic Committee, a feat that is yet to be repeated by any Indian footballer.
In 1999, Banerjee again took up the post of the Technical director of the Indian Football team. On October 26, 2006, 70-year-old Banerjee suffered a minor cerebral haemorrhage at the nursing home where he was admitted.
in 1990. He is one or the four footballers awarded Padma Shri so far. His younger brother, Prasun Banerjee, is also a distinguished footballer winning the Arjuna Award in 1979-80. Further, PK Banerjee was named Indian Footballer of the 20th Century by FIFA. He was awarded the highest award from FIFA, FIFA Centennial Order of Merit in 2004.
PK is the only footballer from Asia who has been awarded the FAIR PLAY Award.
Jalpaiguri
Jalpaiguri is a city in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of Jalpaiguri district, and the divisional headquarters of the North Bengal region.-History:...
in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. He was one of the first recipients of 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....
, when the awards were instituted in 1961. He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri Award
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...
in 1990 and was named Indian Footballer of the 20th Century by FIFA. He represented India for 13 years, and was one of the top scorers in Asia at that time.
Early life
Pradip Kumar Banerjee was born on 23 June 1936, in JalpaiguriJalpaiguri
Jalpaiguri is a city in the state of West Bengal, India. It is the headquarters of Jalpaiguri district, and the divisional headquarters of the North Bengal region.-History:...
in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. He studied in Jalpaiguri Zilla School and
completed his schooling from H.P.M. School in Jamshedpur. He was barely 15 when he played as right-winger for Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
in the Santosh Trophy
Santosh Trophy
Santosh Trophy is an annual Indian football tournament which is contested by states and government institutions. The first winners were Bengal, who also lead the all-time winners list with 31 titles till date....
.
Career
In 1954 he moved on to Kolkata and joined the Mohun Bagan Club in West bengalWest Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
later moving on to represent Eastern Railway Soccer Club. He played striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
position in football and had scored 65 goals in 84 international games which he played during his career. His first game as part of the Indian team, was in the 1955 Quadrangular tournament in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
(now capital of Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
) at the age of 19.
He represented India in three Asian Games namely, the 1958 Asian Games
1958 Asian Games
The 3rd Asian Games were held from May 24 to June 1, 1958 in Tokyo, Japan. A total number of 1,820 athletes, coming from 16 countries, competed in thirteen events at this Asiad. Debuting sports were field hockey, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball. Tokyo would go on to host the 1964 Summer...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, the 1962 Asian Games
1962 Asian Games
The 4th Asian Games were held from August 24, 1962 to September 4, 1962 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Most notable is the exclusion of Israel and the Republic of China from the Games....
in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
where India clinched the gold medal in football and then the 1966 Asian Games
1966 Asian Games
The 1966 Asian Games, also known as the V Asiad, is a multi-sport event which held from December 9, 1966 to December 20, 1966 in Bangkok, Thailand. A total of 142 events in 14 sports will be contested by athletes in the game. Taiwan and Israel returned to the Asian Games, reversing the decision...
in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. He became an olympian at the age of 20, when he was part of the national team that played at the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. He was the captain of the Indian Football Team at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, where he scored the famous equaliser against France to hold a 1-1 draw. He represented India thrice at the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
where India won silver in 1959 and 1964 and bronze in 1965. Recurring injuries forced him to drop out of the national team leading to his retirement in 1967.
After his retirement, his first stint at coaching came with the East Bengal Football 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...
, one of the clubs best times from 1970 to 1975, when they won the Calcutta League six consecutive times. In the 1977 season he guided the Mohan Bagan Football Club to a historic feat, winning the IFA Shield, Rovers Cup and Durand Cup respectively to achieve their first-ever triple-crown triumph in one season. He became the national coach for the first time in 1972 when he coached the Indian side for the qualifying matches of the 1972 Munich Olympics. He went on to coach the Indian Football Team from 1972 to 1986. He joined the Tata Football Academy at Jamshedpur as its Technical Director from 1991 to 1997. PK was awarded the player of the Millennium in 2005 by FIFA. He had also won the International Fair Play Award from the Olympic Committee, a feat that is yet to be repeated by any Indian footballer.
In 1999, Banerjee again took up the post of the Technical director of the Indian Football team. On October 26, 2006, 70-year-old Banerjee suffered a minor cerebral haemorrhage at the nursing home where he was admitted.
Awards
He was one among the first few Arjuna Awardees, when the awards were instituted in 1961. He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri AwardPadma 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...
in 1990. He is one or the four footballers awarded Padma Shri so far. His younger brother, Prasun Banerjee, is also a distinguished footballer winning the Arjuna Award in 1979-80. Further, PK Banerjee was named Indian Footballer of the 20th Century by FIFA. He was awarded the highest award from FIFA, FIFA Centennial Order of Merit in 2004.
PK is the only footballer from Asia who has been awarded the FAIR PLAY Award.
See also
- Arjuna award recipients among Indian footballers