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India have had a football team before independence and the most successful period for Indian football was in the early years between 1948 and 1970, after which the decline has been steady and true. The focus on football has gained a significant boost in the more recent past, with the U-17 World Cup being held in the country right now.
The Colts have a long way to go before really establishing themselves despite impressing many in their two games so far. Here we look at the players with the most caps in Indian football and see who the youngsters will look to emulate.
#5 Gouramangi Singh (71 caps and 6 goals)
At 5th place is current India defender Gouramangi Singh. He has played for many clubs in his career and currently is with NEROCA FC in the I-League. He was one of the highest paid footballers in India during his time at Churchill Brothers and has scored crucial goals for India over the course of his career including one in the final of the Nehru Cup in 2012.
Singh plays the role of a central defender, naturally as the right-sided centre-back. He was the backbone of the national side from his debut till late 2013, from where his games have dried up. He played for FC Pune City in the ISL and at 31, he still has some miles to go before hanging up his boots.
#4 IM Vijayan (79 caps and 40 goals)
IM Vijayan was born in Thrissur in 1969 and represented clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and JCT Mills. He played 79 times for India and formed a successful partnership with another legend- Bhaicung Bhutia.
IM Vijayan won the AIFF Player of the Year in 1993, 1997 and 1999- the first player to win the award multiple times. Vijayan represented India till 2004 in an international career spanning 15 years.
Considered a legend of Indian football, Vijayan was nicknamed 'Kalo Hiran' or Black Buck during the days he spent at Kolkata because of his nimble pace and stylish play. Vijayan since has moved away from being actively involved football but has spoken on occasion about the game he loves and the prospects for Indian football apart from setting up an academy in his hometown of Thrissur.
#3 PK Banerjee (84 caps and 65 goals)
PK Banerjee or Pradip Kumar Banerjee is considered amongst the best ever from India to have played football. He played for Eastern Railway for most of his club career but represented India with distinction in the international level. He represented India in three Asian Games in 1958, 1962 and 1966 and won the gold in 1962 with the country.
He was the captain for India in the Rome Olympics for 1960 where India drew 1-1 against France. He was forced into retirement because of persistent injury problems in 1967. Banerjee served since then as a member of the technical committee for India and has managed both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
The only discrepancy, however, is the fact that PK Banerjee does not hold the record for most goals by an Indian because a lot of the goals were in games on Tour for India, which were not all recognised FIFA internationals.
He was awarded a FIFA Centennial Merit for his achievements in the last century.
#2 Sunil Chhetri (95 caps and 54 goals)
The current Indian captain and legend Chhetri has become India's official record goal-scorer and is fast closing in on becoming the most capped. He became the first Indian to play in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon 'B' and was also signed by the Kansas City Wizards in the MLS.
He played for Mohun Bagan, Churchill Brothers and Dempo apart from a prolific spell at Chirag United before his 2013 move to newly founded Bengaluru FC where he has developed a close bond with the fans and the club, choosing to stay with the club for the first season of the ISL.
The 33-year-old is already a legend, becoming the first Indian to score more than 50 goals in recognised Internationals. He is a centre-forward who has the capability to play on the wings as well. Chhetri shows no signs of slowing down and will likely go down as the record holder for the most caps as well.
#1 Bhaicung Bhutia (104 caps and 40 goals)
The "Sikkimese Sniper" holds the record more most appearance for the national team. His younger compatriot Sunil Chhetri who emulated Bhutia's achievements is following close on his heels. Bhutia was called God's gift to Indian football.
He became the first Indian to sign for European club post-Independence when he signed for Bury in the English Lower Divisions. Although injury hampered him there, he stayed on for three seasons, seeing out his contract.
He returned to India and went about his business after some initial fitness issues. Bhutia retired in 2011 with a testimonial against Bayern Munich, where India lost 4-0. Bhutia has since started football academies to promote grassroots development in the country. He formed a prolific partnership with another great IM Vijayan in the 1990s and later became an experienced handle for the younger Sunil Chhetri.
India's football for most of the last decade was synonymous with Bhaicung Bhutia and it was fitting that he retired as the most capped Indian of all time.
