Bhaichung Bhutia is often nicknamed the Sikkimese Sniper because of his shooting skills in football.
51 Facts About Bhaichung Bhutia
2.
Bhaichung Bhutia has had four spells at then I-League side East Bengal Club, the club where he started his career.
3.
Bhaichung Bhutia is India's second most capped player, with 80 international caps to his name.
4.
Bhaichung Bhutia is India's second youngest international goal scorer after Jerry Zirsanga when he scored his first goal against Uzbekistan in 1995 Nehru cup at the age of 18 years 90 days.
5.
Bhaichung Bhutia, who has a football stadium named after him in honour of his contribution to Indian football, has won many awards, such as the Arjuna Award and the Padma Shri.
6.
Bhaichung Bhutia served as president of the Sikkim Football Association.
7.
Bhaichung Bhutia went on to play for several schools and local clubs in his home state of Sikkim, including the Gangtok-based Boys Club, which was managed by Karma.
8.
In 1993, at the age of sixteen, Bhaichung Bhutia left school to join the professional East Bengal FC in Kolkata.
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Bhaichung Bhutia was the top goalscorer in the league, and was chosen to make his international debut in the Nehru Cup.
10.
Bhaichung Bhutia was named "1996 Indian Player of the Year".
11.
Piara Power, Let's Kick Racism Out of Football campaign co-ordinator, after Bhaichung Bhutia signed for Bury.
12.
Bhaichung Bhutia became only the second Indian footballer to play professionally in Europe after Mohammed Salim.
13.
Bhaichung Bhutia had difficulty in obtaining a visa and could not make his debut, until 3 October 1999 against Cardiff City.
14.
In that match, he came on as a substitute for Ian Lawson and played a part in Bury's second goal, which was scored by Darren Bullock after Bhaichung Bhutia's volley was deflected into his path.
15.
In 2002, Bhaichung Bhutia returned to India and played for Mohun Bagan for a year.
16.
Bhaichung Bhutia finished as the top scorer of the Championship with nine goals.
17.
Bhaichung Bhutia signed up to play for Perak FA, the Malaysian championship club, from August to October 2003 on loan and returned to East Bengal Club for the regular season.
18.
In 2005, Bhaichung Bhutia signed for another Malaysian club, Selangor MK Land.
19.
Bhaichung Bhutia made five appearances only, scoring one goal, as the club had monetary problems.
20.
Bhaichung Bhutia, on signing for Mohun Bagan a second time.
21.
Bhaichung Bhutia won the Indian Player of the Year for the second time in 2008.
22.
On 18 May 2009, Bhaichung Bhutia announced he would quit Mohun Bagan, due to the questioning of his footballing commitment by the club's officials.
23.
Bhaichung Bhutia, on signing for East Bengal a fourth time.
24.
Bhaichung Bhutia was reported to have officially signed for East Bengal on 22 June 2009, on a one-year contract, announcing that he would end his playing career at the club.
25.
In 2011, Bhaichung Bhutia joined United Sikkim as coach and Manager.
26.
Bhaichung Bhutia made his senior international debut in the Nehru Cup against Thailand at the age of 19 on 10 March 1995.
27.
Bhaichung Bhutia scored for India against Uzbekistan in the 1995 Nehru Cup becoming India's youngest ever goalscorer, at 19.
28.
Bhaichung Bhutia scored the second goal for India after Bruno Coutinho opened the scoring and Bhaichung Bhutia was named as the tournament's most valuable player.
29.
Bhaichung Bhutia received the award for the Most Valuable Player and the Fair Play trophy.
30.
Bhaichung Bhutia was selected as the most valuable player of the tournament, finishing with three goals.
31.
Bhaichung Bhutia scored the first goal in this match to help the team recover from their opening day defeat to Lebanon.
32.
Bhaichung Bhutia was adjudged as the "man of the match" for his performance.
33.
Bhaichung Bhutia missed the final match of the round-robin, as India were already guaranteed a spot in the deciding match.
34.
Bhaichung Bhutia was adjudged as "Player of the Tournament" for his stellar performances in all of the matches, including the decider where they beat Syria in a penalty shootout.
35.
Bhaichung Bhutia donated half of the prize money to charity and the other half was shared with his choreographer; he said some money would go towards areas hit by Cyclone Aila.
36.
In 2014, Bhaichung Bhutia joined the All India Trinamool Congress and unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Indian general election from Darjeeling constituency.
37.
Bhaichung Bhutia comes from a buddhist background, although he is, by conviction, not religious - in fact an atheist.
38.
Bhaichung Bhutia married his longtime girlfriend Madhuri Tipnis, a hotel professional, on 30 December 2004 in his native village of Tinkitam in South Sikkim.
39.
Bhaichung Bhutia is one of the most popular figures in the state and is considered as a role model to many Sikkimese as well to people from other states of India.
40.
On 23 January 2008, Bhaichung Bhutia was nominated for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, for his contribution to Indian football.
41.
Bhaichung Bhutia played in the Goal 4 Africa match held in the Allianz Arena, Munich, on 12 July 2008, for the Edu team, led by Clarence Seedorf, and scored twice.
42.
In 2009, Bhaichung Bhutia started a foundation called the "Indian Sports Foundation" to help footballers overcome serious injuries.
43.
Bhaichung Bhutia is the president of the Football Players' Association of India, an organisation that promises "fair treatment" of Indian footballers by dealing with financial aspects such as pension plans.
44.
Bhaichung Bhutia formed FPAI after seeing the Professional Footballers' Association in England.
45.
Bhaichung Bhutia signed an endorsement deal with Adidas India Marketing Pvt.
46.
In 2008, Bhaichung Bhutia was solicited to run with the Olympic torch in India, but he refused to carry the torch to show support for the Tibetan independence movement.
47.
Bhaichung Bhutia was the first Indian sportsman to refuse to carry the Olympic torch.
48.
Bhaichung Bhutia's actions have won him little praise from his colleagues in India however, who criticised him for mixing sports with politics.
49.
Bhaichung Bhutia was elected as member of the "Sportstar Aces 2023" jury.
50.
Bhaichung Bhutia has two older brothers, And one elder sister.
51.
Bhaichung Bhutia was married to Madhuri Tipnis a hotelier in 2004.