Subrata Paul facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Subrata Paul

Pal training with India in 2008
Personal information
Full name	Subrata Paul
Date of birth	(1986-12-24) 24 December 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth	Sodepur, West Bengal, India
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
2002–2004	Tata Football Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2004–2007	Mohun Bagan	0	(0)
2007–2009	East Bengal	31	(0)
2009–2012	Pune	40	(0)
2012–2013	Prayag United	15	(0)
2013	→ Rangdajied United (loan)	6	(0)
2014	→ Vestsjælland (loan)	0	(0)
2014–2015	Mumbai City	26	(0)
2015	→ Salgaocar (loan)	15	(0)
2016–2017	NorthEast United	11	(0)
2016–2017	→ DSK Shivajians (loan)	24	(0)
2017–2019	Jamshedpur	43	(0)
2020–2022	Hyderabad	6	(0)
2021	→ East Bengal (loan)	4	(0)
2022	→ Mohun Bagan (loan)	0	(0)
Total		222	(0)
International career
2006	India U23
2007–2017	India	67	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  India AFC Challenge Cup Winner 2008 India SAFF Championship Winner 2015 India Runner-up 2008 Maldives & Sri Lanka Runner-up 2013 Nepal
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Subrata Paul (born on December 24, 1986) is a former professional footballer from India. He played as a goalkeeper. Many people think he is one of India's best goalkeepers. In 2016, the government of India gave him the Arjuna Award. This is a very special award for athletes.

Club Career Highlights

Starting with Mohun Bagan

Subrata Paul learned to play football at the Tata Football Academy. He began his professional career with Mohun Bagan in 2004. During a match in 2004, there was an accident involving Subrata and another player. This sad event led to important changes in Indian football. These changes helped make sure players were safer and had better medical help during games.

Moving to East Bengal

In 2007, Subrata joined East Bengal, another big club. He was a very important player for them. In 2007, he was named the best goalkeeper in the I-League. This was because he was amazing at stopping shots. His great skills helped East Bengal win the Federation Cup in 2007. This win also helped his team qualify for the AFC Cup 2008. Subrata played 31 league games for East Bengal as their main goalkeeper.

Playing for Pune FC

Subrata joined Pune FC on June 2, 2009. While playing for Pune, he had a chance to try out for a Canadian team, Vancouver Whitecaps, in 2010. Subrata really wanted to play football in other countries. He hoped to play in places like North America, Europe, or Asia. He said he was looking for offers from clubs abroad.

Time with Prayag United

On May 9, 2012, Paul signed with Prayag United in the I-League. He played his first game for them on October 7, 2012. They won that match 5–1. Subrata started well with his new coach. However, his team began to lose games. Because of this, another goalkeeper took his place for the rest of the season.

Loan to Rangdajied United

Subrata signed a contract to play in the new Indian Super League (ISL) in 2014. At first, some I-League clubs did not want to sign players who had joined the ISL. But on November 20, 2013, Rangdajied United decided to sign Paul. He played his first game for Rangdajied on November 22, 2013. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.

Playing in Denmark with FC Vestsjælland

On January 9, 2014, Subrata Paul joined FC Vestsjælland in Denmark. This made him one of the first Indian footballers to play professionally in Europe. He was the first Indian goalkeeper to play abroad. Even though he was part of the team, he mostly played with the reserve squad. He did not play any games for the main team.

Joining Mumbai City FC

Subrata was chosen by ISL club Mumbai City FC in 2014. He was their main goalkeeper until 2015. He played 26 games for the team. Subrata played well, but his team did not make it to the semi-finals.

Loan to Salgaocar

Subrata joined Salgaocar in the I-League on loan from Mumbai City FC. He joined because their regular goalkeeper was injured.

Playing for DSK Shivajians

After playing for NorthEast United in 2016, Paul was loaned to I-League team DSK Shivajians. This happened on December 15, 2016.

Time with Jamshedpur FC

On July 23, 2017, Paul was picked by Jamshedpur for the 2017–18 Indian Super League season. He played in their very first match on November 18, 2017. Paul started the game and did not let any goals in. Jamshedpur drew the match 0–0. After the season, Paul won the Indian Super League Golden Glove Award. This award goes to the best goalkeeper. He stayed with the club for the next season too.

Later Career and Retirement

After leaving Jamshedpur in 2019, Paul joined Hyderabad FC in 2020. He played six matches for Hyderabad. Then, he was loaned to East Bengal. In January 2022, he was loaned to Mohun Bagan. Subrata Paul announced he was retiring from professional football on December 8, 2023. He was 36 years old.

International Career for India

Subrata has played for India at all different age levels. He became well-known with the Under-23 team. He made three amazing saves in a penalty shootout against Myanmar. This helped India qualify for the group stage of the Pre-Olympic qualifiers. In the group stage, his goalkeeping helped India get an unexpected draw against strong team Iraq.

In 2007, he became the main goalkeeper for the Indian Senior Team. This was for the Nehru Cup in 2007. He was named the best goalkeeper in that tournament.

Nehru Cup 2007 Success

Paul was known for his sharp goalkeeping in the Nehru Cup 2007. He helped the Indian team, led by Baichung Bhutia, win the tournament. His saves were very important in the semi-finals against Kyrgyzstan. This helped India reach the finals for the first time. In the final, India played Syria. Paul stopped many attacks from the Syrian team. India won the tournament 1–0. The coach, Bob Houghton, said Subrata was "splendid in goal."

AFC Challenge Cup 2008 Victory

He was also part of the Indian team that won the AFC Challenge Cup 2008. His important saves, especially in the finals, helped India qualify for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. This was the first time India had qualified in 24 years.

Nehru Cup 2009 Win

Subrata was part of the Indian team that won the Nehru Cup International Football Tournament 2009 again. He made three amazing saves in the final match. This helped India win the cup 5–3 in a penalty shootout. He stopped the final shot to help India win.

AFC Asian Cup 2011 Heroics

He was the goalkeeper for the Indian team in the AFC Asian Cup 2011. He made more than 35 saves during the tournament. He became one of the team's stars. After a game against South Korea, newspapers called him 'Spiderman' and 'real MVP' (Most Valuable Player). Subrata humbly said, "I am not a spiderman, just a beginner learning my goalkeeping. I am happy that I have made those saves and done something for the team and country."

World Cup Qualifiers

Subrata was also the main goalkeeper for India in their World Cup Qualifier match against UAE. He even captained the team in a warm-up match that India won. However, in the game against UAE, he was sent off early. India lost that game.

Captaincy for World Cup 2018 Qualifiers

On March 11, 2015, coach Stephen Constantine named Subrata Paul the captain of the India national football team. Under his leadership, the team reached the second round of qualification. They beat Nepal to move forward.

Career Statistics

Club Appearances

International Appearances

These numbers are correct as of June 16, 2017.

Awards and Achievements

For India

• AFC Challenge Cup: Won in 2008
• SAFF Championship: Won in 2015; was runner-up in 2008 and 2013
• Nehru Cup: Won in 2007, 2009, and 2012
• Tri-Nation Series: Won in 2017

Individual Awards

• Arjuna Award: Received in 2016
• East Bengal "Player of the Season Award": Won in 2008

Personal Life

Subrata lives with his family in Sodepur, which is in Kolkata. He married Debasmita Mukherjee Pal in 2012. Debasmita is the daughter of another former Indian goalkeeper, Debashish Mukherjee.

Special Recognitions

In 2016, Subrata received the Arjuna Award. This is India's highest award for sports. In 2015, he was also nominated for the Times of India Sports Awards. He was nominated alongside other great Indian athletes.

See also

In Spanish: Subrata Pal para niños

• List of Indian football players in foreign leagues