Unhone almost 150 international matches khele hain, aur inme se 94 goals bhi maar diye hain. Yeh to bahut hi badhiya performance hai na? Iske saath hi woh active internationals mein third highest goal scorer ban gaye hain, Lionel Messi aur Cristiano Ronaldo ke baad.
Lekin ek dukh ki khabar bhi hai hamare liye. Apne almost 20 saal ke lambe career ke baad, Sunil Chhetri ne international football se retirement le li hai. Haan ji, 39 saal ki umar mein, inhone 16 May ko ek video share karke apne retirement ki ghoshna kar di. Par kya karein, sab kuch ka ek ant hota hai na? Humare football captain ka naam puri duniya mein roshan hua hai. Aise khiladiyon pe hum garv karte hain.
Indian Football Captain Ka Yearly Package Bulands, Experience Zyada Toh Paisa Aur Zyada Milta Hai
In India, football players are raking in an average yearly salary of Rs. 607,585, which works out to about Rs. 292 per hour. Now, that’s not a bad gig, if you ask me. The average salary range for these footballers falls somewhere between Rs. 440,499 and Rs. 727,887. The more experience you got, the more moolah you’re gonna pull in, simple as that.
Now, let’s talk about the big shot, Sunil Chhetri. This guy, he’s the captain of the Indian national team, and he’s making some serious bank. In the 2018-19 season, when his team won the Indian Super League, Chhetri was estimated to be earning a whopping Rs. 5 crore per year. That includes the Rs. 1.5 crore contract he’s got with the Bengaluru Football Club in the Indian Super League.
Fast forward to 2024, and Chhetri’s net worth is sitting pretty at around Rs. 8 crore, which is about 1 million US dollars. That’s not just his salary, mind you. The man’s got his fingers in all sorts of pies, with endorsement deals and business investments adding to his overall wealth. Chhetri’s living the dream.
Chhetri’s Legacy: Who’ll Fill Indian Football Captain’s Boots in 2024?
Sunil Chhetri, the man, the legend, has been the top goal-scorer in the history of the team, leaving behind even the iconic Bhaichung Bhutia. Chhetri’s leadership skills and his knack for finding the back of the net have played a massive role in putting Indian football on the world map, and that’s no small feat, mind you.
Now, Jeje Lalpekhlua, he was once touted as the “next Sunil Chhetri,” but the poor lad’s career took a hit due to a nagging knee injury. Just the other day, on Thursday, Jeje had some wise words for all the young guns out there dreaming of becoming strikers. He told them straight up, don’t you go ignoring any injuries, no matter how small they seem.
VP Sathyan: India’s Football Captain, Gone Too Soon (1965-2006)
Sathyan, the man who led India’s football squad as captain back in 1991, took the team to the World Cup qualifiers in Beirut and Seoul. He was a force to be reckoned with, I tell you. Under his leadership, India struck gold at the SAF Games held in Madras (now Chennai) in 1995. And that’s not all – Sathyan also guided Kerala to victory in the Santosh Trophy in 1992. His skills on the field were unmatched, earning him the title of the All India Football Federation’s Player of the Year in 1992.
Sathyan, he was one of India’s finest defenders, no doubt about that. But despite his incredible talent, he never quite got the recognition he deserved. Football was his life, through and through. It’s a shame that such a legend left us so soon, but his legacy will live on in the hearts of Indian football fans forever.
Bhaichung Bhutia: Sikkim Sniper, India’s Footie Captain Extraordinaire!
Bhaichung Bhutia, the Sikkimese Sniper, is the epitome of Indian football’s rise to glory. Born in Tinkitam, Sikkim, on December 15, 1976, Bhutia’s fancy footwork and goal-scoring prowess made him a living legend.
He dazzled at the 2002 Asian Games and 2010 Asian Cup, hanging up his boots in 2011 with an impressive 104 international caps and 42 goals to his name. Bhutia’s talent and charisma inspired a generation of Indian footballers to chase their dreams and make the nation proud.
From Captain Chhetri to legends like Bhutia and Sathyan, Indian football has seen real gems. With Chhetri’s reign ending, who’ll step up in 2024? No doubt, with our talent and passion, Indian football will keep rising. A toast to the legends, stars, and future heroes who’ll make us proud!
