2) Jarnail Singh Dhillon
The fearless Sikh, or the Punjabi Lion, call him what you want, Jarnail Singh Dhillon was hands down one of the greatest Indian footballers at all time. From containing opposition stalwarts such as Malaysian Abdul Gani (known as the Asian Puskas) and Hungarian Florian Albert (in the Olympic Games) toremaining unbeatable even when the goalie was beaten, Jarnail had done it all!
Today, the utility player or for that matter the centre back who goes forward for the dying moments of the match has become commonplace in football. In the 60s, when the world hadn’t yet witnessed the birth of total football, Jarnail Singh, an unassuming turbaned footballer from the sub continent of India embodied versatility.
It is this versatility of Jarnail Singh which makes him this author’s favourite player off this list!
Defenders are not often heard of linking up seamlessly with wingers and centre forwards (even Gerard Pique struggles though he tries), however, this is exactly what Jarnail accomplished in the semi final and final of the 1962 Asian Games.
Before the semi final, Jarnail sustained a server sut to his head and had to receive six stitches. The Indian coach at that time, the great Rahim Saab, realising that Jarnail would not be able to do his best work at the back but also realising the player’s importance to the team, decided to play him up front along with Chuni Goswami and PK Banerjee.
The move worked like a charm and who should end up scoring a headed goal but the lion hearted Sikh with a cut on his head! Stuff of legends indeed!
Quite uncharacteristically of the fighter that he was, Jarnail Singh passed away in 2000 at the age of 64 while visiting his son in Canada. A diamond that was found in the rough and polished to perfection; a diamond that shone bright like none other. Perhaps all that is left now to be said is, Shine on, you crazy diamond!
