This is a list of Indian international footballers, who have played for the India national football team since its foundation in 1938, before the country's independence. Players with 20 or more official caps are listed here. [1] [2] [3]
All statistics are correct up to and including the match played on 4 July 2023.
The India national football team represents India in men's international football and is governed by the All India Football Federation.
Association football is one of the three most-popular sports in India, the others being cricket and kabaddi. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recognises the Indian Super League as the national football league of India. The Santosh Trophy is a knock-out competition among Indian states and government institutions.
Sailendra Nath Manna, known popularly as Sailen Manna, was an Indian football player who represented the India national team between 1948 and 1956. Predominantly played as a left-back, Manna is considered as one of the best defenders the country has ever produced. He has represented and captained India in different international competitions, including the Olympics and Asian Games.
Jagatjit Cotton & Textile Football Club was an Indian professional football club based in Phagwara, Punjab. Founded in 1971, the club was sponsored by Jagatjit Cotton and Textile Mills under the leadership of Samir Thapar and participated in the National Football League which was later renamed I-League. They also participated in Punjab State Super Football League under licence from Punjab Football Association. The club was disbanded in 2011.
Tollygunge Agragami Football Club is an Indian professional multi-sports club known for its football section. It is based in Tollygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal. Founded in 1943 as "Russa Agragami Samity", the club competes in Calcutta Premier Division League.
Pradip Kumar BanerjeeFIFAOM was an Indian professional footballer who played as a striker for the India national football team. He also captained the national team and later on became the coach of the national team. He represented India in 52 official matches and scored 16 official goals for the country. He was one of the first recipients of Arjuna Award, when the awards were instituted in 1961. He was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri in 1990 and was named Indian Footballer of the 20th century by IFFHS. In 2004, he was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest honour awarded by FIFA.
Deepak Kumar Mondal is an Indian former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. A graduate of the Tata Football Academy, An Arjuna Award winner, he was one of India's most prominent right backs for over a decade, earning 47 caps with the India national team. Mondal also played with both the Kolkata giants, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, spending five years at each club, captaining both of them.
Potsangbam Renedy Singh, simply known as Renedy Singh, is an Indian football coach, former professional footballer and football pundit from Manipur. He currently works as an assistant coach of Indian Super League club Bengaluru. He is also the former captain of the India national football team.
Gouramangi Singh Moirangthem is an Indian former professional footballer. He is currently the assistant coach of Indian Super League club Goa.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Indian Super League club Bengaluru and the India national team. He is often considered as one of the best Indian Goalkeepers of all time.
The India national under-23 football team represents India in international under-23 football and is controlled by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). A member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the team is eligible to compete in the Summer Olympic Games, the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, and the Asian Games, subject to qualification.
Southern Samity is an Indian professional multi-sports club from Kolkata. Founded in 1945, the club is also based in Siliguri, North Bengal. Apart from sports, they are also involved in numerous cultural activities. Its football section competes in the Calcutta Football League premiere division A, and previously participated in the I-League 2nd Division, then second tier of Indian football league system.
The history of the India national football team dates back to the 1920s. They have never played in the World Cup although they qualified in 1950. They have had no entries in the tournament from 1950 onwards. India has never won the final of the Asian Championship but made it to the final in the 1964 AFC Asian Cup. They have only made three appearances since then.
Balaidas Chatterjee was an Indian footballer and football manager, who played predominantly as defender. He became the first head coach of the India national team and guided them at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. During his playing days, Chatterjee played for Mohun Bagan in various domestic competitions.
Ozone Football Club Bengaluru was an Indian professional football club based in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Founded in 2015, the club competed in Bangalore Super Division, the top division of football in the state. Ozone reached the final round of the I-League 2nd Division in the 2017–18, 2018–19 seasons respectively and were also the winner's of the Bangalore Super Division in 2017–18.
Jeakson Singh Thounaojam is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters and the India national team.
The following is a list of the India national football team's competitive records and statistics.
Football was first introduced as an Olympic sports at the Summer Olympic Games held in France in 1900. It was played by only three club teams from three nations as an exhibition sport and played again at the 1904 Games. National sides played for the first time at the 1908 Summer Olympics. India did not send a football side to the Olympics until the 1948 Games; it participated in the next three Games. An Indian team last participated in the 1960 Games. India's best appearance was at the 1956 Summer Olympics where its team reached the semi-finals. Beginning with the 1992 Summer Olympics, the rules were changed so that only under-23 national teams are allowed to compete in the Games. India's U-23 national team has yet to qualify for the Olympic football competition.
Rajendra Prasad "R. P." Singh is an Indian former footballer who played as a midfielder for Mohun Bagan and the India national team.