Nirmal Chettri

Nirmal Chettri (born 21 October 1990 in Melli, Sikkim) is an Indian footballer who plays mainly as a defender for FC Goa.

Nirmal Chettri
Chettri with East Bengal in 2011
Personal information
Full name Nirmal Chettri
Date of birth (1990-10-21) 21 October 1990
Place of birth Melli, Sikkim, India
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 RG Punjab
Number 3
Youth career
2000–2005 Namchi Sports Hostel
2005–2006 Sports Academy of Sikkim
2006 Sikkim
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Air India
2008–2012 East Bengal 125 (8)
2012–2013 Mohun Bagan 33 (3)
2013–2014 → Mohammedan (loan) 12 (2)
2014–2015 Kerala Blasters 12 (0)
2014–2015 → Dempo (loan) 16 (0)
2016-2018 NorthEast United 25 (0)
2017 → DSK Shivajians (loan) 13 (0)
2018–2019 FC Goa 1 (0)
2019–2020 RG Punjab 7 (0)
National team
2005 India U17
2009–2013 India U23 9 (0)
2011–2014 India 19 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Career

Early career

Chettri began his footballing career in 2000 with Namchi Sports Hostel after being discovered in the Sikkim governments Search for More Bhaichung's campaign (In reference to then India striker and Sikkimese-born Baichung Bhutia).[1] In 2002 Chettri played for Namchi in the Subroto Cup where he led the team to the final, only to lose to Mizoram 1–2.[1] He then represented Namchi in the Interreligious Peace Sports Festival in South Korea in 2004.[1] In that same year he represented Namchi in the Chief Minister Gold Cup.[1] Within those three years Chettri won 3 National Talent Scholarships from the AIFF.[1] In 2005 Chettri joined Sports Academy of Sikkim and competed in the Mini SAARC. Chettri also played for Sikkim in the 2006–07 Santosh Trophy.[1] After good performances with Sikkim Chettri was scouted and signed for Air India FC of the I-League in 2007.[1] He stayed at Air India till 2008.[1]

East Bengal

In 2008 Chettri signed for East Bengal F.C. of the I-League.[1] He made his Asian debut in the AFC Cup in 2010 against Al-Ittihad Aleppo of Syria on 10 March.[2] During a friendly match against FC Bayern Munich under 23s at Barasat, their manager Gerd Müller praised Chettri saying that "East Bengal's number three (Nirmal Chettri) was brilliant".[3] Chettri replied to this by saying, "I am delighted with his (Gerd Muller) compliment as he was such a great player. It is always good to get such praise from great players but I will not get carried away and will work hard as I have a long way to go."[4] He has established himself as a regular in East Bengal's first team sense.[3]

Mohun Bagan

On 19 May 2012 Chettri signed with arch-rivals Mohun Bagan of the I-League.[5] He made a dream debut in the green & maroon jersey scoring McDowell Mohun Bagan's opening goal in their 6–0 thrashing of West Bengal Police in the Calcutta Premier Division.[6]

Chettri made his professional debut for Mohun Bagan on 20 September 2012 against Churchill Brothers during the club's opening match in the 2012 Indian Federation Cup where the club drew the match 0–0.[7] On 12 May 2013 in the last match of the 2012-13 I-League, he was assisted by Denson Devadas on the 5th minute to score the 1st goal in the 3–0 victory over United Sikkim F.C. at the Paljor Stadium.[8]

Mohammedan

On 26 November 2013 it was announced that Nirmal has signed for Mohammedan on loan from IMG RELIANCE.[9]

Kerala Blasters

Kerala blasters have picked Nirmal for the upcoming ISL football league.[10]

Dempo (loan)

After the 2014 season, Chettri signed with Dempo in the I-League on loan for the whole season.[11]

FC Goa

Ahead of the 2018–19 season, Chettri was signed by FC Goa.[12]

International
Chettri with SAFF Trophy

Youth

Chettri has earned caps for the India youth team at U17 and U23 level. Chettri also trained with the Under-14 team in Jharkhand in 2003 and 2004.[1] Chettri represented the U17 team during the team's exposure trip to Portugal in 2005.[1] Chettri was then selected for the India U23 team that was selected to take part in the 2009 SAFF Championship which the India senior team choose not to play in SAFF Cup due to practice arrangements for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He came on in the 115th minute in the final against Maldives on 13 December 2009 in which India U23 won on penalties 3–1.[13] Nirmal missed his penalty however but luckily for India U23, Maldives missed their penalties 3 times.[13]

Chettri played for India U23 as well during the 2012 Olympic Qualifiers. He played in India U23's first match of qualification against Myanmar U23 on 23 February 2011. India U23 won 2–1.[14]

Senior

Chettri made his senior international debut for India during the 2011 SAFF Championship against Bhutan on 5 December 2011, India won the match 5–0.[15] Chettri then proceeded to play in India's next 4 games in the tournament which ended with the Final against Afghanistan on 11 December 2011 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The game ended 4–0 in India's favour, thus giving Chettri his first major honour with the senior national team.[16] Chettri was then selected in the India squad for the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. During the tournament Chettri only played in one match and that was the last match against North Korea on 13 March 2012. India lost the match 0–4 but that did not matter as India was knock-out at the Group stage before the match.[17] Nirmal has been a regular under new India coach Wim Koevermans also and played an important role in India's Nehru Cup 2012 triumph.

International
Statistics accurate as of 9 April 2015
National teamAppsGoals
India 201140
201240
201370
Total150

Honours

EAST BENGAL FC
Winner : 2009, 2010
Runner-Up : 2011
Winner : 2010, 2011
Winner : 2011

Mohammedan Sporting
Winner (1): 2014

Kerala Blasters FC
Runner-up : 2014

FC Goa
Runner-up : 2018–19
winner :2019

International
Winner (2): 2009, 2011
Runner-up (1): 2013
Winner (1): 2012

Personal life

Nirmal Chettri was born to Late Shankar Bahadur Chettri and Late Krishnamaya Chettri at Melli (South Sikkim) on 21st October. He has 4 sisters and an elder brother, Late Rohit Kumar Chettri, Nirmal also lost one of his sisters last year. Recently he has got married to Mrs. Pratima Chettri from Lingmoo (South Sikkim). Nirmal first turned out for his school Melli Government Sr. Sec. School. His footballing education started at Namchi Sports Hostel, where he moved after getting selected in the Sikkim Government’s ‘Search for more Bhaichungs’ campaign. He Was very good in football

Chhetri is of Nepali origin. He got married on 24 August 2019 [18]

References
  1. "Sikkim footballer Nirmal Chettri makes international debut". iSikkim. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  2. "AFC CUP 2010 MATCH SUMMARY". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  3. Subhankar Mondal (5 March 2009). "Feature: The Rock That Is Nirmal Chettri". Goal.com. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  4. Amoy Ghoshal (19 January 2009). "Chettri Delighted With Muller Praise". Goal.com. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  5. Noronha, Anselm. "East Bengal defender Nirmal Chettri set to sign for Mohun Bagan next month". goal.com. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  6. http://www.mohunbaganac.com/players/nirmal-chettri
  7. Vaz, John. "Mohun Bagan 0–0 Churchill Brothers: The Goans held to an entertaining draw by the Mariners". Goal.com. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  8. http://www.mohunbaganac.com/match-preview-review?match_id=82&tab=2
  9. "Mohammedan Sporting loan Nirmal Chettri from IMG-Reliance". Sportskeeda. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  10. http://www.goal.com/en-india/live-update/1994/isl-domestic-player-draft-live
  11. "Nirmal joins Dempo". Times of India. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  12. "FC Goa announce signing of Nirmal Chhetri". Sportstarlive. Indo-Asian News Service. 12 July 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  13. http://www.kolkatafootball.com/saff_cup_football_2009.html SAFF Cup 2009
  14. Deb, Debapriya. "Pre-Olympic Qualifier: India v Myanmar – LIVE Commentary Updates". The Hard Tackle. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  15. Bali, Rahul. "Bhutan 0–5 India: Clifford Miranda And Sunil Chhetri Star As Bhutan Make An Early Exit". goal.com. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  16. Bali, Rahul. "India 4–0 Afghanistan: The Men In Blue Successfully Defend Their SAFF Championship Title". goal.com. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
  17. India 0–4 North Korea
  18. "Nepal Origin Indian International Nirmal Chhetri expresses Deep Shick Over The Loss of Two Nepal u-14 Players". GoalNepal.com. 13 August 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
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