V. P. Sathyan
Encyclopedia
Vatta Parambath Sathyan (29 April 1965 – 18 July 2006), known popularly as V. P. Sathyan, was a captain of the Indian national football team
who played in the centre back position. He was named the AIFF
player of the year in 1995.
in the Santosh Trophy
National championship. He attended the South Zone camp for Indian probables under Amar Bahadur in 1985. Strongly built and a capable defender, he did enough to get into the National team to the 1985 SAF Games in Dhaka
. It was in 1986 that his career began to flourish as he represented the country in the Nehru Cup in Thiruvananthapuram and the Seoul Asian Games.
The late eighties brought forth some of his glorious moments. Sathyan's exploits with the once formidable Kerala Police
team are well documented in the Indian football's history. He was a key member of the Thiruvanthapuram team, which won the Federation Cup
twice in 1989-90 and 90-91. From Kerala Police, he went to Kolkata
in 1991 and played for two seasons, one in Mohammedan Sporting Club
and one in Mohun Bagan before returning to Kerala Police again and then moving over to Indian Bank. Sathyan served the bank since 1995, initially as a player and then as the team's coach from 2001.
Sathyan became the captain of the Indian team in 1991 for the World Cup qualifiers in Beirut
and Seoul
. He led Kerala to the Santosh Trophy
title in 1992. Sathyan was the captain of the gold-medal winning Indian team
in the 1995 SAF Games in Chennai.
Sathyan was adjudged the AIFF
player of the year in 1995, and that perhaps was the highest recognition for this largely unsung hero of Indian football. He had begun to make a mark in coaching, and was assistant to Stephen Constantine
in 2002 when India toured South Korea.
. His parents were Vatta Parambath Gopalan Nair and Narayani Amma. He was married to Anitha and had a daughter, Athira.
on July 18, 2006. He left behind a wife and ten year old daughter. His birth place is in Mekkunnu near Chokli, Kannur district
.
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...
who played in the centre back position. He was named the AIFF
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...
player of the year in 1995.
Career
Sathyan started his career in 1983 representing KeralaKerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
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....
National championship. He attended the South Zone camp for Indian probables under Amar Bahadur in 1985. Strongly built and a capable defender, he did enough to get into the National team to the 1985 SAF Games 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...
. It was in 1986 that his career began to flourish as he represented the country in the Nehru Cup in Thiruvananthapuram and the Seoul Asian Games.
The late eighties brought forth some of his glorious moments. Sathyan's exploits with the once formidable Kerala Police
Kerala Police
The Kerala State Police is the law enforcement agency for the state of Kerala, India. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The Police training college was set up by Travancore Maharaja in Thiruvananthapuram in mid 20th centuary. In 2004,a larger Kerala...
team are well documented in the Indian football's history. He was a key member of the Thiruvanthapuram team, which won the 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...
twice in 1989-90 and 90-91. From Kerala Police, he went to Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
in 1991 and played for two seasons, one in Mohammedan Sporting Club
Mohammedan Sporting Club
Mohammedan Sporting Club may refer to the following sports teams:*Mohammedan Sporting Club , sports club in Kolkata, India*Mohammedan Sporting Club , sports club in Dhaka, Bangladesh...
and one in Mohun Bagan before returning to Kerala Police again and then moving over to Indian Bank. Sathyan served the bank since 1995, initially as a player and then as the team's coach from 2001.
Sathyan became the captain of the Indian team in 1991 for the World Cup qualifiers in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
and Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
. He led Kerala to 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....
title in 1992. Sathyan was the captain of the gold-medal winning Indian 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...
in the 1995 SAF Games in Chennai.
Sathyan was adjudged the AIFF
AIFF
Audio Interchange File Format is an audio file format standard used for storing sound data for personal computers and other electronic audio devices...
player of the year in 1995, and that perhaps was the highest recognition for this largely unsung hero of Indian football. He had begun to make a mark in coaching, and was assistant to Stephen Constantine
Stephen Constantine
Stephen Phillip Constantine is an English football manager who currently manages Cypriot team Nea Salamis.-Biography:...
in 2002 when India toured South Korea.
Personal life
VP Sathyan was born on April 29, 1965 in Kannur districtKannur district
Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name. The old name Cannanore is the anglicised form of the Malayalam name Kannur. Kannur District is bounded by Kasaragod District to the north and...
. His parents were Vatta Parambath Gopalan Nair and Narayani Amma. He was married to Anitha and had a daughter, Athira.
Death
Due to financial problems coupled with addictions to gambling and alcohol, he committed suicide by jumping in front of a train in ChennaiChennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
on July 18, 2006. He left behind a wife and ten year old daughter. His birth place is in Mekkunnu near Chokli, Kannur district
Kannur district
Kannur District is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The town of Kannur is the district headquarters, and gives the district its name. The old name Cannanore is the anglicised form of the Malayalam name Kannur. Kannur District is bounded by Kasaragod District to the north and...
.
