Shyamal Ghoshwho played as a defender in Indian soccer team in the 1970s, he died on Tuesday after a short battle with the disease. He was 71 years old and died at the Calcutta Municipal Hospital.
Shyamal Ghosh made his India debut against Thailand in the 1974 Merdeka Cup. He then represented India at the 1974 Asian Games in Tehran and played seven international football matches in his career.
While Shyamal Ghosh had a brief international career, he excelled at club level and won several trophies including the Kolkata League, IFA (Indian Football Association) Shield, Durand Cup and Rovers Cup.
Shyamal Ghosh had his first major break with Mohun Bagan in 1972, but his more productive years were with East Bengal, for whom he played from 1974 to 1979.
In his first season in East Bengal, Shyamal Ghosh won four major trophies – Calcutta Football League, IFA Shield, DCM Trophy and Rovers Cup. In 1977, he became the captain of the East Bengal team.
With Bengal at the national championship, he won a hat-trick of Santosh Trophy titles in 1975, 1976 and 1977.
Shyamal Ghosh retired as a player after playing for several seasons in Rajasthan in the early 1980s.
“In addition to being one of the best players of the 1970s, he was known for his impeccable manners and remained a lifelong gentleman on and off the pitch,” said Kalyan Chaubey, All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Chaubey. condolences on the death of Shyamal Ghosh.
As coach, Shyamal Ghosh personally selected Bhaichung Bhutia to play for East Bengal in 1993 when he was just 17 years old.
In the same year, Shyamal Ghosh’s East Bengal team defeated Iraqi champions Al Zawra 6-2 in Calcutta. East Bengal won the CFL, Durand Cup and Kalinga Cup titles that year.
Shyamal Ghosh received the East Bengal Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
