Sanju Pradhan (born 11 March 1989) is an Indian
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby ...
who plays as a
winger for
Bhawanipore FC
Bhawanipore FC is an Indian professional football club based in Bhowanipore, Kolkata, West Bengal. The club was established in 1910, and competed in the I-League 2nd division in 2020–21 season, then second tier of Indian football league sys ...
in the
CFL Premier A.
Pradhan has won all the major domestic tournaments available in India besides the
I-League
The I-League (known as Hero I-League for sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp) is the second-tier men's professional football competition of the Indian football league system. It is currently contested by 12 clubs across the country with the w ...
while playing for East Bengal; he has won 2
Federation Cups in
2009–10 and
2012 while he also has won 1
Indian Super Cup
AIFF Super Cup, also called the Super Cup or Hero Super Cup (for sponsorship ties), is an annual knockout football competition in Indian football. It is organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Competition is open to the clubs ...
with the club in
2011
File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
. Pradhan recently became the Technical Partner for Kipsta (Decathlon Sports India) in 2016.
Career
Early career
Hailing from a
Nepali Newar family, Pradhan was born to D.B. Pradhan and Sarda Pradhan on 15 August 1989 in the village of Sombaria which is located in the
West Sikkim district
Gyalshing District or Geyzing District is a district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Its headquarter is Geyzing, also known as Gyalshing. The district is a favourite with trekkers due to the high elevations. Other important towns include Pelling ...
of the Indian state of
Sikkim
Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
which is located in
North East India
, native_name_lang = mni
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, ...
.
Pradhan gained a liking to football at a young age through watching people in his village play the game in their free time.
[ During his child years Pradhan had to play at the school level but because his school did not have a team he had to play for other teams.][ He then attended the trials for the "Search for more Bhaichungs" at the ]West Sikkim district
Gyalshing District or Geyzing District is a district of the Indian state of Sikkim. Its headquarter is Geyzing, also known as Gyalshing. The district is a favourite with trekkers due to the high elevations. Other important towns include Pelling ...
headquarters.[ After impressing Pradhan was selected to attend the statewide trials for the program in Gangtok where he passed as well and was one of 30 boys selected from the trial.][ In April 1999 the boys were sent to the Namchi Sports Hostel Football Academy where they participated in the Subroto Cup every year.][ Pradhan was also selected by the Sikkim football team at junior level.][ In 2006 Pradhan joined the Sports Academy of Sikkim after he and the other boys were sent there.][ That same year Pradhan, along with teammate ]Nirmal Chettri
Nirmal Chettri (born 21 October 1990 in Melli, Sikkim) is an Indian footballer who plays mainly as a defender and last played for Southern Samity in the Calcutta Football League.
Career
Early career
Chettri began his footballing career in ...
, was invited for a trial with Prayag United S.C.
United Sports Club (formerly known as both Prayag United, and Chirag United) is an Indian professional football club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. Founded as Eveready Association in 1927, the club competes in the Calcutta Premier Division A, ...
of Kolkata
Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, comme ...
but neither player passed the trial.[ Then in October 2006, after a great performance in the All India Governors Gold Cup Football Tournament for the Sports Academy of Sikkim, Pradhan was scouted by then ]Air India FC
Air India Football Club is an Indian professional football club, founded by Anand Prajapati in 1952, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. They are sponsored by Air India, and have enjoyed some success in the MDFA Elite League. They have also compete ...
coach Bimal Ghosh and was offered a chance to join the current I-League
The I-League (known as Hero I-League for sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp) is the second-tier men's professional football competition of the Indian football league system. It is currently contested by 12 clubs across the country with the w ...
team.[ After going through then Sports Minister, P.S. Golay, Pradhan signed with Air India.][
]
East Bengal
After spending two years at Air India FC
Air India Football Club is an Indian professional football club, founded by Anand Prajapati in 1952, based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. They are sponsored by Air India, and have enjoyed some success in the MDFA Elite League. They have also compete ...
Pradhan signed for East Bengal F.C.
East Bengal Club, commonly referred to as East Bengal (), is an Indian professional multi-sport club based in Kolkata, West Bengal. It is best known for its professional men's football team that competes in the Indian Super League, the top fli ...
who also play in the I-League
The I-League (known as Hero I-League for sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp) is the second-tier men's professional football competition of the Indian football league system. It is currently contested by 12 clubs across the country with the w ...
in 2008.[ Pradhan scored his first goal for the Red and Gold on 7 February 2009 against his old club now, Air India, in which he scored in the 81st to guarantee East Bengal a 3–1 victory over the Airmen. Pradhan then made his Asian international debut in the 2010 AFC Cup against ]Al-Ittihad Al-Ittihad (Arabic: الاتحاد "The Union"), sometimes transliterated as Al-Etihad or Al-Ettihad may refer to:
Sports Football Libya
*Al-Ittihad Club (Tripoli), a football club based in Bab Ben Gashier
* Al Ittihad Gheryan, a football club bas ...
of Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
on 10 March 2010 in which East Bengal lost 1–4. Pradhan then went on to score his second ever goal for East Bengal on 29 March 2010 against Salgaocar F.C. at the Fatorda Stadium which turned out to be East Bengal's only goal in another 1–4 loss. He then scored again on 23 May 2010 against Churchill Brothers
Churchill Brothers FC Goa, or simply known as Churchill Brothers, is an Indian professional football club based in Margao, Goa, that competes in the I-League, alongside Goa Professional League. Founded in 1988 in Margao, the club usually part ...
in which East Bengal drew 2–2. Pradhan did not score again for East Bengal until 29 January 2011 in which he scored again against Churchill Brothers in yet another 2–2 draw. Pradhan then scored probably his most memorable goal on 6 February 2011 in which he scored in the 8th minute from the penalty spot against historic rivals of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan A.C. at the Salt Lake Stadium
The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK; ), commonly known as the Salt Lake Stadium, is an all-seater multi-purpose stadium located in Bidhannagar, with current capacity of 85,000 spectators. Named after Swami Vivekananda, the stadium f ...
in front of 60,000 fans which led East Bengal to a 1–1 draw. Then in 2011 Pradhan was made captain of East Bengal and soon he shown why after he scored 2 goals in 2 matches for East Bengal; the first coming on 2 November 2011 against Mumbai F.C. and the second against Shillong Lajong F.C.
Shillong Lajong FC (founded as Lajong SC) is an Indian professional football club based in Shillong, Meghalaya, that competes in the Shillong Premier League. The club was established in 1983 with the prime objective of improving the declining ...
on 6 November 2011. Pradhan then scored again for East Bengal on 30 April 2012 against Sporting Clube de Goa
Sporting Clube de Goa, simply known as Sporting Goa (also known by its abbreviation SCG), is an Indian professional football club based in Panaji, in the Indian state of Goa, that competes in Goa Professional League. The club has also competed ...
at the Salt Lake Stadium
The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK; ), commonly known as the Salt Lake Stadium, is an all-seater multi-purpose stadium located in Bidhannagar, with current capacity of 85,000 spectators. Named after Swami Vivekananda, the stadium f ...
in which East Bengal won 3–0. In 2011, he was made club captain.
Pradhan then started the 2012-13 I-League on the a regular substitute but then he sustained an injury in November before returning with a bang on 30 December 2012 in which Pradhan started his first I-League match of the season and scored his first brace of the season as East Bengal went out 3–0 winners over Pailan Arrows
Indian Arrows (formerly known as Pailan Arrows) was an Indian developmental football club that competed in the I-League. The club was formed by the All India Football Federation in 2010, with a main goal of nurturing young Indian football tal ...
at the Kalyani Stadium
Kalyani Stadium is a stadium in Kalyani, West Bengal, India. The stadium holds 20,000 spectators. Currently the stadium has been re-modelled with full-fledged modern structure and 5 storied gallery with added facilities. It now hosts matches of ...
.
Dempo
Sanju Pradhan joined Dempo
Dempo Mining Corporation Limited is a prominent mining company from the western Indian state of Goa. The mineral business was founded by Mr. Vasantrao S. Dempo in 1941 along with his younger brother Mr. Vaikuntrao Dempo. Mr. Vasantrao S. Demp ...
on loan from IMG Reliance on 30 December 2013.
Salgaocar
In 2015 Pradhan joined Salgaocar on a season long deal, also getting to be re-united with his schoolmate and childhood friend Bikash Jairu
Bikash Jairu (born 10 November 1990) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club East Bengal and the India national team.
Career
Jairu hails from Gyalshing, West Sikkim and was spotted during th ...
.
Return to East Bengal
In December 2015 it was announced that Pradhan would be returning on loan to his former club for the 2016 season.
Mumbai City
In 2017, Pradhan joined Mumbai City FC and became the first person to play for four different ISL clubs. He stayed with the club for the following season.
Career statistics
International
Honours
East Bengal
*Federation Cup Federation Cup or Fed Cup is the former name of the premier world team competition in women's tennis.
Federation Cup may also refer to:
* Capital Football Federation Cup, an Australian territory-based association football tournament
*Federation Cup ...
: 2009–10, 2012
*Indian Super Cup
AIFF Super Cup, also called the Super Cup or Hero Super Cup (for sponsorship ties), is an annual knockout football competition in Indian football. It is organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Competition is open to the clubs ...
: 2011
File:2011 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: a protester partaking in Occupy Wall Street heralds the beginning of the Occupy movement; protests against Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed that October; a young man celebrate ...
*IFA Shield
The IFA Shield is an annual football competition organized by the Indian Football Association. The IFA is the governing body of football in the state of West Bengal, came into existence in 1893. Named after the association, the IFA Shield to ...
: 2012
*Calcutta Premier Division
The Calcutta Football League (CFL) is a ladder-based football competition in the Indian state of West Bengal, organised by Indian Football Association (WB), under state football leagues in India. Due to sponsorship reasons, the league is of ...
: 2010, 2011
Atlético de Kolkata
*Indian Super League
The Indian Super League (ISL) is an Indian professional league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Organised by the All India Football Federat ...
2014
Bhawanipore
*Naihati Gold Cup: 2022
* CFL Premier Division A runner-up: 2022
India
* SAFF Championship: 2015
*Nehru Cup
The Nehru Cup was an international association football tournament organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), named after the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. It was launched in 1982, but was not held from 1998 to ...
: 2012
References
External links
*
Sanju Pradhan Profile on East Bengal Website
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pradhan, Sanju
Indian footballers
1989 births
Living people
Indian Gorkhas
Air India FC players
East Bengal Club players
Dempo SC players
Salgaocar FC players
Calcutta Football League players
I-League players
ATK (football club) players
Indian Super League players
Association football wingers
People from Gyalshing district
Footballers from Sikkim
India international footballers
NorthEast United FC players
FC Pune City players
DSK Shivajians FC players
Mumbai City FC players
RoundGlass Punjab FC players