Nirmal Chettri
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 21 October 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Sikkim, India | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Centerback | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Mohun Bagan | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006-2008 | Air India | ?? | (??) |
| 2008-2011 | East Bengal | ||
| 2012-present | Mohun Bagan | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2009-present | India U23 | 5 | (0) |
| 2011-present | India | 9 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Nirmal Chettri (born 21 October 1990) is an Indian professional footballer who plays for Mohun Bagan. He captained the Sikkim team in the 2009 Santosh Trophy in the absence of Baichung Bhutia.[1] He is no relation to Sunil Chhetri.[2]
Early career
Chettri was originally a Striker however while at the mini SAARC competition representing the Sports Academy of Sikkim, a defender was injured and Chettri took his place. The coach decided that Chettri was better as a defender and played him in that position from that day onwards. After the competition Chettri was scouted by scouts from Air India FC and Chettri eventually signed for them as a youth team member.
Professional career
East Bengal
Chettri moved to Kingfisher East Bengal F.C. in 2009 after two seasons at the Mumbai based club Air India FC. During a friendly match against FC Bayern Munich under 23s, their manager Gerd Müller praised Chettri saying that "East Bengal’s number three (Nirmal Chettri) was brilliant".[3] Chettri replied to this by saying, "I am delighted with his (Gerd Muller) compliment as he was such a great player. It is always good to get such praise from great players but I will not get carried away and will work hard as I have a long way to go." [4] He has established himself as a regular in East Bengal's first team sense.[3]
Mohun Bagan
Team India and East Bengal right full-back Nirmal Chhetri has officially signed the contract papers which will see him play for arch-rivals Mohun Bagan till the end of 2013-14 season.
International
On December 13, 2009 Chettri made his India U23 debut against Maldives in the SAFF Championship Final of 2009. He earned his first cap then for the Senior team against Bhutan during the 2011 SAFF Championship on 5 December 2011.[5] He then helped India win the tournament on 11 December 2011 with a 4-0 victory of Afghanistan in the Final.[6] In January 2012, Nirmal Chettri played in Bhaichung Bhutia's farewell match against Bayern Munich and earned the respect of German international and 2010 World Cup Golden Boot winner Thomas Mueller.[7]
Honors
International
- ^ "Nirmal Chetri to lead Sikkim". IndianFootball.com. 2009-05-22. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ John Duerden (2009-03-12). "Why India is football's new frontier". FourFourTwo. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ a b Subhankar Mondal (2009-03-05). "Feature: The Rock That Is Nirmal Chettri". Goal.com. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ Amoy Ghoshal (2009-01-19). "Chettri Delighted With Muller Praise". Goal.com. Retrieved 2009-08-05.
- ^ http://the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=2866
- ^ http://the-aiff.com/pages/news/index.php?N_Id=2874
- ^ http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2696/indian-national-team/2012/01/11/2840919/you-can-see-that-bhaichung-bhutia-has-good-skills-while