Irungbam Surkumar Singh (born 21 March 1983) is an Indian footballer who played for the India national football team as a defender.[2] Graduated out of the prestigious Tata Football Academy in 2000, he played for the Kolkata giants East Bengal, and later for United Sikkim in the 2nd Division of I-League. After impressing at under-16 level while playing for Manipur under-16 despite being only 13, Surkumar was hired by Tata Football Academy. He spent four years in TFA and used to play as a center back. He also made his international debut in 2001 in the historic 1-0 win over UAE in a 2002 World Cup qualifier.
 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Irungbam Surkumar Singh | ||
| Date of birth | 21 March 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Imphal, India | ||
| Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 8 1⁄2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Right back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Mumbai Tigers | ||
| Number | 13 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2001 | East Bengal | 19 | (2) |
| 2001–2003 | Mahindra United | 34 | (0) |
| 2003–2004 | East Bengal | 0 | (0) |
| 2004–2007 | Mahindra United | 34 | (0) |
| 2007–2009 | East Bengal | 16 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Mohun Bagan | (4) | |
| 2013–14 | Mumbai Tigers | 0 | (0) |
| 2014– | United Sikkim | 6 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2006 | India U23 | ||
| 2001–2011 | India | 52[1] | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Career
editEast Bengal
editAfter signing his first professional contract with East Bengal, he was turned into a right back by then-East Bengal coach Syed Nayemuddin. That change brought the best out of Surkumar as he played a key role in East Bengal’s first ever National League title.
Mahindra United
editAfter just one season with the red and gold brigade, he joined Mahindra United. He won the Durand Cup with the Mumbai-based outfit but also tore his ligament there in a Mumbai League match.
East Bengal
editSurkumar returned to East Bengal for his second spell and won the treble with them in 2003 - ASEAN Cup, National Football League (NFL) and Kolkata Premier League.
Mahindra United
editSurkumar then joined Mahindra for the second time in his career and spent three successful seasons with the Mumbai club. The fullback won every major trophy with the Red Devils of India and was adjudged AIFF Player of the Year in 2006.
East Bengal
editHe rejoined East Bengal for this third spell and won the Federation Cup in 2007.
Mohun Bagan
editThen in 2009, for the first time in his career Surkumar signed for Mohun Bagan. He had scored the only goal from a Snehasish Chakraborty corner, as debutantes Shillong Lajong F.C. had thrashed the century-old club 1-4 at Kolkata.[3]
Mumbai Tigers
editIn the 2013 I-League 2nd Division, he had opened the scoring for the Mumbai Tigers F.C. in their last match against Bhawanipore F.C. in the 3-5 loss.[4]
He won the Kolkata League with Mohun Bagan in his first season and will be an important player for them once he returns from international duty. For the national team, Surkumar has been a regular since the 2005 SAFF Cup triumph. The attacking right wingback has easily been India’s best player in that position in the last decade. Unlike very few fullbacks in the country, Surkumar also has the ability to score goals, especially from long range. He has four international goals to his name with the most recent one coming in the 3-6 defeat against Yemen in Pune.[5]
United Sikkim F.C.
editIn 2014, he has joined United Sikkim F.C.
Honours
editEast Bengal
India
Individual
References
edit- ^ "Surkumar Singh player profile". Archived from the original on 11 November 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ Ghoshal, Amoy (23 November 2016). "All time Indian XI". sportskeeda.com. Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "LAJONG HAMMER MOHAN BAGAN 4-1 – Shillong Lajong FC | Official Website". Archived from the original on 26 December 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ "Ileague 2nd divn -2013 | LIVE Indian Football News | LIVE kolkatafootball.com | Indian Football | I-LEAGUE LIVe SCORE | Live Indian Football News | Live Indian Soccer News | Football in India | Soccer of India. | KOLKATA FOOTBALL NEWS". Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "Profile". Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ "Making a mark in Asia: East Bengal's 2003 Asean Cup win – a defining moment for Indian club football". Scroll.in. 26 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ "Jeje Lalpekhlua is 2016 AIFF Player of the Year". the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2018.
- ^ "All India Football Federation Awards: Sunil Chhetri and Bala Devi win Player of the Year Trophy". India Today. 14 February 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
External links
edit- Irungbam Surkumar Singh – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Irungbam Surkumar Singh at National-Football-Teams.com
