| Full Name | Inivalappil Mani Vijayan |
| Date of Birth | April 25, 1969 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Birth Place | Thrissur City, Kerala, India |
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Position | Forward |
| Debut | July 1, 1994 |
| Networth | $5 million |
Inivalappil Mani Vijayan is an Indian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He is best remembered for his successful attacking partnership with Bhaichung Bhutia for the Indian football team in the late 90s and early 2000s.
IM Vijayan in the village of Kannur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala. He was the youngest of seven children in his family, and grew up in poverty.
Despite his difficult circumstances, Vijayan showed a natural talent for football from a young age. He began playing for his village team, and was soon scouted by a local club. He began his professional football career with Kerala Police in 1986, at the age of 17.
Vijayan started his club career with Kerala Police in 1989. He played for the team for three years and helped them win the Federation Cup in 1991. He joined FC Kochin in 1992 and played for the team for two years. During his stint with the club, he helped them win the Kerala State League and the Federation Cup.
In 1994, Vijayan joined Mohun Bagan, one of the biggest clubs in India. He played for the team for two years and won the National Football League (now known as the I-League) in 1997. Vijayan joined JCT Mills in 1996 and played for the team for four years. During his stint with the club, he helped them win the National Football League twice (in 1996-97 and 1997-98) and the Punjab State League twice.
He also had a successful stint with Perak FA in Malaysia. He played for the team from 1999 to 2001 and helped them win the Malaysian Charity Shield in 2000. In 2001, Vijayan joined East Bengal, another big club in India. He played for the team for two years and helped them win the ASEAN Cup in 2003.
He retired from club football in 2006. In 284 club appearances, he scored 142 goals.
Vijayan made his international debut for India in 1992 against the Philippines in the Nehru Cup. He scored a hat-trick in the match and announced his arrival on the international stage.
He played a key role in India's triumph in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in 1993, 1997, and 1999. He was the top scorer of the tournament in 1997 and 1999 and was also named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament in 1997.
Vijayan represented India in the AFC Asian Cup in 1996, 2000, and 2004. He scored two goals in the 2000 edition and helped India reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history. He was also part of the Indian team that won the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia in 1997. He scored two goals in the tournament and was named the Most Valuable Player.
Vijayan played a key role in India's triumph in the Nehru Cup in 1993, 1997, and 1999. He was the top scorer of the tournament in 1993 and 1999 and was also named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament in 1997.
He announced his retirement from the Indian national team after the 2003 Afro-Asian Games. In 71 appearances, he scored 34 goals.
Vijayan scored a total of 77 goals in the National Football League/I-League, which is the highest by an Indian player.
Vijayan scored a total of 40 goals in the Santosh Trophy, which is the highest by any player in the history of the tournament.
He scored a total of 6 hat-tricks in the National Football League/I-League, which is the highest by any player in the tournament.
He scored 14 goals in the 1997-98 edition of the National Football League, which is the highest by any player in a single edition of the tournament.
Vijayan scored a total of 15 goals in the Nehru Cup, which is the highest by any player in the tournament.
Vijayan was named the Most Valuable Player of the SAFF Championship thrice (in 1997, 1999, and 2003), which is the highest by any player in the tournament.
Vijayan was named the Most Valuable Player of the Nehru Cup thrice (in 1993, 1997, and 1999), which is the highest by any player in the tournament.
| India | SAFF Championship: 1993, 1997, 1999; third place: 2003 |
| South Asian Games Gold medal: 1995; Silver medal: 1993; Bronze medal: 1999 | |
| Individual | Arjuna Award: 2003 |
| AIFF Player of the Year: 1992, 1997, 2000 | |
| Nehru Cup Best Player: 1993 | |
| SAARC Gold Cup top scorer: 1993 | |
| Nominated for Padma Shri: 2020 |
After retiring from football, Vijayan became a coach and started his own football academy in Thrissur. He has also worked as a television commentator and pundit for various football tournaments.
Vijayan is actively involved in various social initiatives, and he works for the betterment of underprivileged children. He is associated with several NGOs and charitable organizations that work for the welfare of society.
As of 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.
Vijayan was born into a Malayali Family, he began his life in a gravely poor environment, and had to sell soda bottles in the Thrissur Municipal Corporation Stadium to help his family.
Vijayan is married to Raji. He has 3 children: Aromal Vijayan, Archana Vijayan and Abhirami Vijayan. He has a son in law, Abdul Aadil, and a granddaughter named Adeeva. His wife is believed to be a homemaker, and the family is said to have a happy life together.
After achieving success in football, Vijayan has owned properties in various parts of India, including a house in Thrissur, where he spent his childhood. He also owns a house in Kerala's capital city, Thiruvananthapuram.
