Happy Birthday Sunil Chhetri! 29 facts about India's football captain

16. But Chhetri left Dempo midway through the 2009-10 season, as he finally realised his dream of playing abroad by joining USA’s MLS outfit Kansas City Wizards. He became only the third Indian after Mohammed Salem and Bhaichung Bhutia to play professionally for a foreign club.

17. However the American venture didn’t go too well for Chhetri as he hardly got any first team action with the only highlight being a substitute appearance in a friendly against Manchester United. He was soon released by the MLS franchise to join the Indian national team for their 2011 Asian Cup preparations.

18. India bowed out of the 2011 Asian Cup group stage but Chhetri caught the attention of international media and scouts, playing every minute of India’s historic campaign. He got on the score-sheet against Bahrain and South Korea, thus becoming the first Indian after Inder Singh to score in more than one match in the Asian Cup.

19. Australia’s Perth Glory went on record of monitoring his progress during the Asian Cup but in the end Sunil joined Kolkata’s United Sports Club for a short-term deal that would last until the end of the 2010-11 season, having an excellent goal scoring ratio there too.

20. He returned to Mohun Bagan for a second spell in the summer of 2011 and became the 23rd footballer that year to win the prestigious Arjuna Award.

21. 2011, also proved to be his most prolific calendar year for the Indian national team as he scored 13 in 17 matches and also captained the nation for the first time at the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in Malaysia.

22. Seven of those 13 goals came in the 2011 SAFF Cup, which India won and Chhetri broke IM Vijayan’s record of scoring six in a single SAFF Cup edition. At the end of 2011, he was adjudged AIFF Player of the Year, only the third player to win the award twice after Bhaichung Bhutia and Vijayan.

23. In 2012, Chhetri became the permanent captain of the Indian national team following the retirement of Climax Lawrence and won his first trophy as skipper – the 2012 Nehru Cup.

Sunil in action during the 2012 Nehru Cup (Photo Credit: AIFF Media)

24. It was his third Nehru Cup success in as many attempts, but this was by far his best individually as he finished as the top scorer and was also adjudged the player of the tournament.

25. In November 2011, Chhetri and international team-mate Jeje Lalpekhlua had trials at Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers. However it didn’t earn him a contract and he ended the 2011-12 season at Mohun Bagan.

26. In July 2012, Chhetri was given a second chance abroad as he was signed by Sporting Lisbon ‘B’. But just like what happened in the United States, Sunil had a frustrating time in Portugal as he only managed a few substitute appearances over seven months in a team that comprised of mainly teenagers.

27. Desperate for regular action, Chhetri was loaned to Churchill Brothers in February 2013 and it turned out to be a successful move for both parties as the Indian captain helped the Goan club win their second I-League title. It was his first top flight crown and he also featured in the AFC Cup for the Red Machines.

The India captain had a frustrating time in Portugal

28. This summer Chhetri had four options – remain in Sporting Lisbon ‘B’ and fight for his place, re-sign with Churchill Brothers, sign with IMG-Reliance for the proposed IPL-style tournament, or join the newly-formed I-League club in Bangalore. He opted to join Bengaluru FC thus making the JSW-owned team the eighth Indian and 10th overall club of his career.

29. Chhetri is a self-confessed PlayStation and FIFA addict. He is a FC Barcelona fan and likes Bollywood films, with Konkona Sen being his favourite actress. Recently he bought an Audi.