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Bhaichung Bhutia facts for kids

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Bhaichung Bhutia
Bhaichung Bhutia at the NDTV Marks for Sports event 21.jpg
Bhutia in 2012
Personal information
Full name Bhaichung Bhutia
Date of birth 15 December 1976 (1976-12-15) (age 44)
Place of birth Tinkitam, Sikkim, India
Height 1.73 m
Playing position 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 (8)
2002–2003 Mohun Bagan 11 (6)
2003 → Perak F.A. (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 (100)
National team
1995–2011 India 80 (26)
Teams managed
2012 United Sikkim (Chairman)
2018– Sikkim
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Bhaichung Bhutia (born 15 December 1976), also spelled as Baichung Bhutia, is an Indian former professional footballer who played as a striker. Bhutia is considered as the torchbearer of Indian football in the international arena. 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 then I-League side East Bengal Club, the club where he started his career. When he joined English club Bury in 1999, he became the first Indian footballer to sign a contract with a European club and only the second to play professionally in Europe, after Mohammed Salim. 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, SAFF Championship three times and the AFC Challenge Cup. He is also India's second most capped player, with 82 international caps to his name. He is also India's second youngest international goal scorer after Jerry Zirsanga when he scored his first goal against Uzbekistan in 1995 Nehru cup at the age of 18 years 90 days

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.

In October 2010, he founded Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools in Delhi in partnership with football by Carlos Queiroz and Nike. In August 2011, Bhutia announced his retirement from international football. His farewell match was with the India national team on 10 January 2012 against Bayern Munich at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi.

Images for kids

  • Bhaichung Bhutia

    Bhaichung Bhutia in the inauguration ceremony of Palakkad Noorani Football stadium

  • Indian Team

    India national team during Asian Cup 2007 qualifiers. Bhutia standing rightmost.

  • The captain of Indian Football team, Shri Bhaichung Bhutia celebrating alongwith other players after winning the final of Nehru Football Cup between India and Syria, in New Delhi on August 29, 2007

    India captain Bhutia (left) celebrating alongwith other players after winning the Nehru Cup in 2007

  • The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Shri Award to Shri Bhaichung Bhutia at Civil Investiture-II Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 10, 2008

    The President, Smt. Pratibha Patil presenting the Padma Shri Award to Bhutia during Civil Investiture-II Ceremony, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2008

  • A large football stadium which is roughly 75% full. There are footballers on the pitch, most of whom are on the right side of the stadium. The team on the left, East Bengal are wearing red while Bayern Munich, right, are wearing black. The floodlights are on and the sky appears to be orange.

    Yuva Bharati Krirangan – home stadium of East Bengal Club and Mohun Bagan

  • A crowd of people protesting against the 2008 Olympics. In the foreground there is someone holding up a white poster which says "What Will The Olympics Stand For This Summer?" in red capital letters at the top and at the bottom it shows an image of a pair of hands held together by the Olympic rings as if they were handcuffs.

    Bhutia is a supporter of the Tibetan independence movement.

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