Bhaichung Bhutia facts for kids
Bhutia in 2012
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Bhaichung Bhutia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 15 December 1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Tinkitam, Sikkim, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1993–1995 | East Bengal | 9 | (17) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1997 | JCT | 20 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | East Bengal | 31 | (15) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Bury | 37 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2003 | Mohun Bagan | 11 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003 | → Perak (loan) | 8 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2005 | East Bengal | 38 | (21) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Selangor MK Land | 5 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | East Bengal | 16 | (12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | Mohun Bagan | 45 | (19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | East Bengal | 3 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | United Sikkim | 3 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | East Bengal | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 226 | (123) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1996 | India U23 | 4 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–2011 | India | 84 | (27) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | United Sikkim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Sikkim | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bhaichung Bhutia (born 15 December 1976) is a famous Indian former footballer. He played as a striker. Many people see Bhutia as the person who brought Indian football to the world stage. He is often called the Sikkimese Sniper because of his great shooting skills. Another famous Indian player, I. M. Vijayan, once said Bhutia was "God's gift to Indian football."
Bhutia played for East Bengal FC four times during his career. This was the club where he first started playing. In 1999, he joined the English club Bury. This made him the first Indian footballer to sign a contract with a European club. He was also only the second Indian to play professionally in Europe. Later, he had a short loan period with the Malaysian club Perak FA. In India, he also played for JCT Mills and Mohun Bagan.
Bhutia has won many awards and titles with the Indian national team. These include the Nehru Cup, LG Cup, and the SAFF Championship three times. He also won the AFC Challenge Cup. He is India's second most capped player, meaning he has played the second highest number of international matches. He is also India's second youngest player to score an international goal. He scored his first goal against Uzbekistan in 1995 when he was 18 years old.
Outside of football, Bhutia won a TV show called Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. This caused some issues with his club at the time, Mohun Bagan. He was also the first Indian athlete to boycott the Olympic torch relay. He did this to support the Tibetan independence movement. A football stadium is named after him, which is a great honor. He has also received important awards like the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.
In 2010, he started Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in Delhi. He worked with famous football coach Carlos Queiroz and Nike for this. In 2011, Bhutia announced he would retire from international football. His last match for the Indian national team was against Bayern Munich in 2012. He later ran for president of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) but did not win. He also served as the president of the Sikkim Football Association.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Football
Bhaichung Bhutia grew up in a farming family in Sikkim. His parents were farmers and at first, they were not very keen on him playing sports. His father passed away when Bhaichung was young. With encouragement from his uncle, Karma Bhutia, he started school at St. Xaviers School in Pakyong.
When he was nine, he won a football scholarship from the SAI. This allowed him to attend the Tashi Namgyal Academy in Gangtok. He played for different schools and local clubs in Sikkim. His uncle Karma managed one of these clubs, the Gangtok-based Boys Club. In 1992, he played in the Subroto Cup and won the "Best Player" award. This helped him get noticed by bigger football clubs. A former India goalkeeper, Bhaskar Ganguly, saw his talent and helped him move to play football in Calcutta. Besides football, Bhutia also played badminton, basketball, and athletics for his school.
Club Career Highlights
Starting in Kolkata and Moving to Europe
In 1993, at just 16 years old, Bhutia left school to join the professional club East Bengal F.C. in Kolkata. Two years later, he moved to JCT Mills in Phagwara. His team won the India National Football League in the 1996–97 season. Bhutia was the top goal scorer in the league that year. He was also chosen to play for the Indian national team for the first time in the Nehru Cup. In 1996, he was named "Indian Player of the Year."
In 1997, Bhutia went back to East Bengal. He made history by scoring the first hat-trick (three goals in one game) in a big match between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. This happened in the 1997 Federation Cup semi-final, where East Bengal won 4–1. He became the team captain in the 1998–99 season. In 1999, he received the Arjuna Award, which is given by the Indian government to athletes for their amazing achievements.
Playing in England with Bury
Bhutia always wanted to play football overseas. On 30 September 1999, he went to England to play for Bury F.C. in Greater Manchester. He became the first Indian footballer to sign a contract with a European club. He was also only the second Indian to play professionally in Europe. He had some trouble getting his visa, so he couldn't play his first game until 3 October 1999 against Cardiff City. He scored his first goal in the English league on 15 April 2000 against Chesterfield. A knee injury limited his playing time in his last season at Bury. He left the club in 2002.
Back to India and More Success
In 2002, Bhutia returned to India and joined Mohun Bagan. However, he got injured early in the season and couldn't play much. After that, Bhutia went back to East Bengal Club again. He helped them win the ASEAN Club Championship in 2003.
He scored a goal in the final match, which East Bengal won 3–1 against Tero Sasana. He was named the "man of the match" for his performance. He was also the top scorer of the championship with nine goals. For a short time in 2003, Bhutia played on loan for Perak FA, a club in Malaysia.
In the 2003–04 season, Bhutia scored 12 goals, helping East Bengal win the league title. He continued to play for East Bengal until 2006. In his last season there, he was named "Player of the National Football League" by the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Return to Mohun Bagan
On 15 June 2006, Bhutia joined Mohun Bagan again. He played alongside Jose Ramirez Barreto, forming a strong attacking team. In the 2007–08 season, Bhutia scored 10 goals in 18 matches. In 2008, he won the Indian Player of the Year award for the second time. This made him only the second player to win this award more than once.
In May 2009, Bhutia announced he would leave Mohun Bagan. This was due to disagreements with the club's officials. He said he would not play for them anymore.
Final Years with East Bengal and United Sikkim
Bhutia officially signed with East Bengal again on 22 June 2009. He said he wanted to finish his playing career at the club where he started. This move caused some debate between Mohun Bagan and Bhutia, but he eventually played for East Bengal.
In 2011, Bhutia joined United Sikkim as a player-coach. This meant he was both playing for the team and helping to coach them. On 12 February 2015, it was announced that Bhutia would return to East Bengal one last time for a short contract. After this, he would retire from professional football. He wanted to retire wearing the red and gold colors of East Bengal. However, due to a knee injury, he decided not to play in the top league.
International Career for India
Bhaichung played his first senior international match for India in the Nehru Cup on 10 March 1995. He was 19 years old. He scored his first goal for India against Uzbekistan in the 1995 Nehru Cup. This made him India's youngest ever goal scorer at the time.
In the 1997 SAFF Championship, India won 5–1 against the Maldives in the final, and Bhutia scored a goal. Two years later, in the 1999 SAFF Championship held in Goa, India won again. They beat Bangladesh 2–0 in the final, with Bhutia scoring the second goal. He was named the tournament's most valuable player.
He also scored two goals in the final of the 2002 LG Cup in Vietnam. India won 3–2 against the host nation. In the 2007 Nehru Cup, Bhutia scored a penalty in a 6–0 win over Cambodia. He also scored in wins against Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan. India won the final against Syria 1–0, becoming champions.
Bhutia was captain when India won the 2005 SAFF Championship. He scored a goal in the group stage against Bhutan. In the final, India beat Bangladesh 2–0, and Bhutia scored the second goal. He received awards for Most Valuable Player and Fair Play. In the 2008 SAFF Championship, Bhutia scored one goal in a 4–0 win over Nepal. However, India lost to the Maldives in the final.
He scored twice in a 2–1 victory in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup against Turkmenistan. This helped India reach the semi-finals. Bhutia scored a goal in the final against Tajikistan, which India won 4–1. This win also meant India automatically qualified for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He was chosen as the most valuable player of the tournament.
The 2009 Nehru Cup was very special for Bhutia. He played his 100th match for India in a 2–1 win over Kyrgyzstan. This made him the first Indian player to reach 100 international matches. He also scored the first goal in this match. He was named "Player of the Tournament" for his great performances.
At the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, Bhutia was injured for the first two games. He played as a substitute against South Korea, but India lost 4–1 and was eliminated. Soon after the Asian Cup, he announced his retirement from international football on 24 August 2011. He finished his career with 40 goals in 104 matches for India.
Farewell Match
| 10 January 2012 19:00 IST |
India  |
0–4 |  Bayern Munich |
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi Attendance: more than 35,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mario Gómez  14'Thomas Müller 29', 37'Bastian Schweinsteiger 43' |
Managerial Roles
On 13 November 2012, Bhutia became the temporary manager of United Sikkim. He took over after the club had a very big loss in a match. In January 2018, he was appointed the manager of the Sikkim football team for the Santosh Trophy.
Other Activities
Entertainment and TV
In 2009, Bhutia won the third season of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. This is the Indian version of the dancing show Dancing with the Stars. He won a prize of 4 million Indian Rupees. Bhutia gave half of his prize money to charity. His participation in the show caused some issues with his club, Mohun Bagan, because he missed some football practices.
Politics
In 2014, Bhutia joined the Trinamool Congress political party. He ran for election in the 2014 Indian general election from the Darjeeling area, but he did not win. In the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, he supported the Left Front party. In 2018, he started his own political party called "Hamro Sikkim Party".
Other Interests
Bhutia comes from a Buddhist background, but he considers himself an atheist. He married Madhuri Tipnis in 2004, but they later divorced in 2015. He has three children. The government of Sikkim built a stadium, the Bhaichung Stadium, in his honor. He is a very popular person in Sikkim and is seen as a role model.
On 23 January 2008, Bhutia was nominated for the Padma Shri. This is the fourth highest civilian award in India, given for his contributions to Indian football. He received the award on 26 January, India's Republic Day.
In 2008, Bhutia was asked to carry the Olympic torch in India. However, he refused to carry the torch to show his support for the Tibetan independence movement. He said he sympathized with the Tibetan cause and wanted to stand with the Tibetan people. He was the first Indian sportsman to refuse to carry the Olympic torch.
In 2011, Bhutia was in the Sikkim earthquake. He was not hurt, but his United Sikkim offices were destroyed. After the earthquake, he worked with actors like Neha Dhupia and Rahul Bose to raise money for the victims. He also serves as the president of the Football Players' Association of India (FPAI). This organization helps Indian footballers with things like fair treatment and pension plans.
Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools
On 28 October 2010, Bhutia started Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in Delhi. He partnered with famous football coach Carlos Queiroz for this project. These schools aim to train young footballers and help develop football at the grassroots level.
Personal Life
Bhutia's parents were farmers. He has two older brothers and one older sister. He was married to Madhuri Tipnis from 2004 to 2015. He is a father to three children, two girls and one boy.
Career Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | 1995 | 7 | 2 |
| 1996 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1997 | 8 | 4 | |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 4 | 4 | |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2008 | 12 | 5 | |
| 2009 | 5 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 84 | 27 | |
- Scores and results list India's goal tally first
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29 March 1995 | Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo |  Sri Lanka |
1–0 | 2–2 | 1995 SAFF Championship |
| 2 | 2–0 | |||||
| 3 | 6 March 1996 | National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lampur |  Malaysia |
2–5 | 2–5 | 1996 Asian Cup qualifier |
| 4 | 11 April 1997 | Nehru Stadium, Cochin |  China |
1–2 | 1–2 | 1997 Nehru Cup |
| 5 | 7 September 1997 | Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu |  Bangladesh |
3–0 | 3–0 | 1997 SAFF Championship |
| 6 | 9 September 1997 | Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu |  Maldives |
1–0 | 2–2 | 1997 SAFF Championship |
| 7 | 13 September 1997 | Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu | Maldives |
2–0 | 5–1 | 1997 SAFF Championship |
| 8 | 26 April 1999 | Fatorda Stadium, Margao |  Pakistan |
1–0 | 2–0 | 1999 SAFF Championship |
| 9 | 2–0 | |||||
| 10 | 29 April 1999 | Fatorda Stadium, Margao | Maldives |
1–0 | 2–1 | 1999 SAFF Championship |
| 11 | 1 May 1999 | Fatorda Stadium, Margao | Bangladesh |
2–0 | 2–0 | 1999 SAFF Championship |
| 12 | 15 April 2001 | Bangalore Stadium, Bangalore |  Yemen |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2002 World Cup qualifier |
| 13 | 20 May 2001 | Bangalore Stadium, Bangalore |  Brunei |
3–0 | 5–0 | 2002 World Cup qualifier |
| 14 | 10 December 2005 | Peoples Football Stadium, Karachi |  Bhutan |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2005 SAFF Championship |
| 15 | 17 December 2005 | Peoples Football Stadium, Karachi | Bangladesh |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2005 SAFF Championship |
| 16 | 18 February 2006 | Hong Kong Stadium, Wan Chai |  Hong Kong |
2–2 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 17 | 17 August 2007 | Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi |  Cambodia |
2–0 | 6–0 | 2007 Nehru Cup |
| 18 | 20 August 2007 | Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi | Bangladesh |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2007 Nehru Cup |
| 19 | 26 August 2007 | Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi |  Kyrgyzstan |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2007 Nehru Cup |
| 20 | 3 June 2008 | Rasmee Dhandu Stadium, Malé |  Nepal |
2–0 | 4–0 | 2008 SAFF Championship |
| 21 | 22 July 2008 | Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad | Malaysia |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 22 | 3 August 2008 | Gachibowli Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad |  Turkmenistan |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2008 AFC Challenge Cup |
| 23 | 2–0 | |||||
| 24 | 13 August 2008 | Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi |  Tajikistan |
2–0 | 4–1 | 2008 AFC Challenge Cup |
| 25 | 14 January 2009 | Hong Kong Stadium, Wan Chai | Hong Kong |
1–1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 26 | 23 August 2009 | Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi | Kyrgyzstan |
1–0 | 2–1 | 2009 Nehru Cup |
| 27 | 26 August 2009 | Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi | Sri Lanka |
1–0 | 3–1 | 2009 Nehru Cup |
Honours and Awards
With East Bengal
- ASEAN Club Championship: 2003
- National Football League: 2003–04
- Federation Cup: 2009–10, 2010
- Indian Super Cup: 2011
With Mohun Bagan
- Federation Cup: 2006, 2008
With India National Team
- AFC Challenge Cup: 2008
- SAFF Championship: 1997, 1999, 2005
- Nehru Cup: 2007, 2009
- South Asian Games gold medal: 1995
- Afro-Asian Games silver medal: 2003
Individual Awards
- AIFF Player of the Year: 1995, 2008
- Arjuna Award: 1998
Padma Shri: 2008- AFC Challenge Cup Most Valuable Player: 2008
- Asian Football Hall of Fame: 2014
Images for kids
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India national team during Asian Cup 2007 qualifiers. Bhutia standing rightmost.
See also
In Spanish: Bhaichung Bhutia para niños
